Essay on clinical negligence

Submitted By Lillybo
Words: 1400
Pages: 6
Open Document
Clinical negligence

What was the event?

Clinical negligence concerns all healthcare professionals. It is now recommended that all healthcare professionals have indemnity cover. Anyone who works for the NHS is given indemnity insurance by the NHS litigation authority (NHSLA). Negligence is anything which can be proved that you didn’t follow your duty, as stated in the NMC code of conduct (2008), or you have not followed best practice. This may or may not have resulted in harm to a patient, but putting a patient at risk of possible harm also needs to be avoided.
The NHS wants to avoid any clinical negligence as it would be a drain on valuable resources funded by the public. The NHS is known worldwide as the best healthcare service in the world. They pay for the best training for nurses and offer development opportunities for them post-qualifying. Anyone who fails to meet the standards of care, or meet the responsibilities required of them is not only putting patients at risk, breaking their professional oath, wasting tax payers money, but also reducing public perception/trust in the service.
The Wayne Jowett example given in the presentation was the case of a teenager with cancer who was given a cancer treatment drug by the incorrect route. The drug had been administered into the young man’s spine. After this reversal drugs and surgery had been attempted to reverse the mistake.
The article was very emotive with the statements from his parents about the pain and fear that their son had been in. They described how after a month of him being unconscious, days before the paralyses reached his heart, they had lost hope.
By taking the time to look up the drug and how it was administered, or discussing with; the pharmacists, doctors, or other experienced registered nurses with training in giving cancer drugs, this situation could have been avoided. If the doctors involved prescribed the drug via the wrong route I’m sure that the GMC would have investigated this. If the nurse giving the drug, did so via the wrong route even if it was prescribed so, they should have been struck off. It is in a nurse’s duties to check all prescriptions are prescribed. I think that it could be difficult to establish if negligence has taken place without witnesses, documentation which is completed correctly and medical staff admitting that best practice, guidelines, or the code were not followed, or were broken. Ultimately if your practice/duty puts patients at harm you are responsible and should be brought in front of the NMC and criminal trial, as stated in the law of tort.

What did I learn from the event?

Reflecting on the work covered in this study day, it has made me feel uneasy at the possibility of me opening myself up to risk of prosecution and loss of my career if I should be clinically negligent. However I feel that my training so far has given me the skills and knowledge to prevent clinical negligence either within my amp practice or the practice of others. As a student nurse I do not take any actions that I am not sure are one hundred percent correct. If there is any doubt in my mind I seek help from either textbooks or colleagues.
Considering the contribution is to the National Health Service litigation authority indemnity cover, this is a large amount of money which could be used for the treatment of patients. Unfortunately indemnity insurance is a necessary expense in the modern world we live in. If I was the relative of the patient who had received poor treatment which had resulted in either temporary or permanent poor health or death I would want justice to prevail and may require personal compensation for this, for example if they had small children, or needed care.
Risk management is extremely important in being able to prevent clinical negligence and possibly reduce the amount of indemnity cover payments. Accurate clear documentation and record-keeping is vitally important as a healthcare
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on clinical negligence

Shona Hookey Ethical Issues

around decisions that were made initially. Looking closely at what is expected of the registered nurse’s role regarding accountability, clinical decision making, communication and delegation. Also, was there a was a breach of duty of care that resulted in negligence towards Shona Hookey and what elements would have to be proved for a successful case of negligence. Finally, this paper will look at what ethical issues may have risen with Shona Hookey’s care. PATIENT SAFETY The management…

Words 223 - Pages 1

Contract Law Essay

Essay Plan Introduction: What is negligence? (Duty of care, breach of duty, causation, remoteness and defence) The meaning of each of these 5 parts which consist negligence. Clinical negligence and the difference it has with other type of negligence. (Bolam Case and Caparo v Dickmen) Bolam case V Bolitho Break down the discussion ( within the question there are 4 legal matters to consider) Body: Throat pain. The doctor according to Bolam always owe a duty…

Words 703 - Pages 3

Discharge Learning Case Study Essay

Ethical Principles Ethics, according to Edge & Groves, 2018. Ethics of Health Care: A Guide to Clinical Practice (4th ed.). Cengage Learning, is a branch of philosophy, exploring the distinctions between right and wrong. It delves into the study of moral conduct, examining human behaviour in various circumstances. Taking ethics to the health field…

Words 2169 - Pages 9

Mayo: Jury and Plaintiff Essay

Describe what elements need to be proven by the Plaintiff in order for her to establish her Negligence case, and what facts you might expect will be admitted at trial in support of each of the elements. In other words, what does the Plaintiff need to prove to win her Negligence case? 2. Describe what the defendants will need to prove in order to utilize any available defenses (i.e., Comparative Negligence, Assumption of Risk) D. CLOSING ARGUMENT This is your final opportunity…

Words 1383 - Pages 6

Essay Quiz Results - Informed Consent

quiz questions and the explanation of the answers. Question 1 Question : An elderly gentleman, whose wife is his legally authorized representative since his strokes several years ago, was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He is eligible for a clinical trial using a new investigational drug that aims to treat lung cancer. He is able to express interest, shows a basic understanding of the nature of the trial, and gives his assent to participation. The subject's wife is out of town on a business…

Words 1107 - Pages 5

Vocabulary: Nursing and Advanced Practice Nurse Essay

Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) – a master’s degree educated RN who assumes accountability for client care outcomes through the assimilation and application of research based information to design, implement, and evaluate client plans of care. The CNL is a provider and a manager of care at the point of care to individuals and cohorts or populations. The CNL designs, implements, and evaluates client care by coordinating, delegating, and supervising the care provided by the health care team, including…

Words 2571 - Pages 11

Judd Vs Drezga Case Study

The Judd vs Drezga case is critical case addressing the economic impact of law suits on doctor’s or healthcare organizations. The statutory limitation enacted by the legislature to limit damages recoverable by victims in malpractice actions is commendable, considering the fact that it was passed in 1986, Utah legislative predictive ability to understand the growing economic concerns by doctor’s, healthcare organizations and continuously inflation of healthcare costs. It is an act of creating balance…

Words 622 - Pages 3

Accountability in Practice Essay example

Accountability in Practice Introduction In this assignment I intend to critically analyse the developing role of the advanced nurse practitioner in relation to analysing the professional accountability when making clinical judgement. The Royal College of Nursing informs us that ‘as a professional, you are personally accountable for actions and omissions in your practice, and must always be able to justify your decisions’ (NMC 2008) Accountability can be defined as ‘required or expected to be able…

Words 3708 - Pages 15

Rm Citi Modules Essay

may be used to conduct research that only benefits the larger society Issued in 1974, 45 CFR 46 raised to regulatory status: US Public Health Service Policy (45 CFR 46 raised to regulatory status the US Public Health Service policy of 1966 "Clinical research and investigation involving human beings".) Which of the following brought increased public attention to the problems with the IRB system? Death of Jesse Gelsinger (Although all of these are related to the…

Words 1285 - Pages 6

Ethical Violations In Social Work

Amy Easley was a licensed clinical social worker who was charged with several unethical violations. According to the Maryland Board Social Work Examiners the following violations presented in the order charged against Amy were the following: - Commits any acts of gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of social work. - Knowingly violates any provision of this title. - Engage in a course of conduct that is inconsistent with generally accepted professional standards in the practice…

Words 430 - Pages 2