Jerry As A Medical Assistant Is A Multifaceted Career Choice

Submitted By kruseta22
Words: 805
Pages: 4

The healthcare field is a multifaceted career choice. In this case Jerry is a medical assistant and also is an LPN. Having these two certifications does not give him the right to do what he pleases and make his own decisions about patients. He must work within his scope of practice. He is a medical assistant not to be confused with a physician’s assistant. This means that Jerry would not have the legal authority to fill a patient’s prescription without prior approval of the physician overseeing this patient. If Jerry were to refill this prescription he runs the risk of being sued for malpractice. Especially if the patient dies as a result of having a prescription refilled without a doctor knowing. Medical assistant duties would include taking vitals, charting, and other office duties such as greeting patients and scheduling appointments. This position does require certification and so does being an LPN. Licensed practical nurses duties would include giving injections (in some states), taking vitals, administering medication, and charting. In both job descriptions neither profession would involve writing medications to patients only administering them as ordered by the physician. Understanding this patient is in an urgent state and really would like his refill before going to the airport, it wouldn’t matter if it were valium pills or high blood pressure pills either way they should in no way be refilled by Jerry. Informing the patient that you could speed up the process by calling the doctor right away may sooth the patient’s anxiety and make the process go much smoother him. Jerry would be held liable if the patient had an adverse reaction to the medication that he refilled. This is why he must work within his scope of practice and not try and play doctor when he hasn’t had the sufficient training to do so. My advice to Jerry would be to talk to the patient in a respective way that gives the patient assurance you are going to help get his prescription refilled before he leaves. Also letting the patient know that he is not authorized to refill prescriptions without the doctor’s approval no matter what the circumstances are. Before getting off the phone get the patients information and tell him you will contact him as soon as possible when you receive information from the doctor who is caring for him. Some major ethical issues Jerry is facing is feeling like he would really like to help the patient out and give him the prescription so he isn’t stressing out when he is trying to leave for the airport. Jerry also knows that he isn’t authorized to refill prescriptions, so ethically he knows if he does than the patient could have an adverse reaction to it and he would be held accountable for his actions. According to Sandrick, all areas of the healthcare are trying to protect themselves from malpractice and all for good reasons (Sandrick, K., 2001). Malpractice suits can cost hospitals thousands of dollars. Patients are not afraid of being compensated for their ill services. This could mean legal troubles for Jerry in the near