Ethics Essay

The case study of Jerry McCall, 1 of the health check assistants in Dr. Williams office, describes one of the m whatsoever challenges that occur on a daily basis while working in a doctors office. There ar many different levels of supply present in an office that confound an array of different seam duties and kitchen ranges of practice. Jerry was presented with a patient that was in need of a prescription(prenominal) fill on a medication that he is not freeed to set off with discover pose authorization from the medico. Unfortunately for Jerry he was covering a lunch chip and the only one in the office at that time.There argon a number of different ethical decisions that Jerry is faced with in which we pass on cover below. Jerrys aesculapian training as a medical assistant does not include the release of any typecast of shed light on full of prescription medications without the authorization or direction from the medical student. The arena of practice for a medica l assistant includes performing administrative and certain clinical duties under(a) the direction of physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding for insurance purposes.Clinical duties may include taking and recording springy signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician (Medical service Job Description, 1997-2013). It is to a fault stated in the case study that Jerry is a Licensed Practical Nurse, which is also only to refill a prescription under the direction of the physician. Would it receive a difference if the medication call for were for control of high blood pressure that the patient critically of necessity on a daily basis?There should not be a difference between what types of medications Jerry is asked to authorize to refill for a patient. This type of duty is not part of the medical assistants scope of pract ice. There are other alternatives that Jerry rat turn to in arrange to problem-solve this situation that will be discussed below. If Jerry calls in the refill and the patient has an adverse reaction while flying, is Jerry protected from a lawsuit under the tenet of respondent superior?The doctrine of respondent superior is a legitimate doctrine most commonly used in tort, that holds an employer or psyche legally responsible for the wrongful acts of an employee or agent, if such acts occur at heart the scope of the employment or agency (Cornell University Law School, 2010). This is stating that the physician is also responsible and can be held accountable for the actions of Jerry. Jerry must practice within the scope of practice set for medical assistants and within his job description.The physician can be held liable by the patient and can have charges pressed on him based on this doctrine. The advice I would have for Jerry is to make sure he is looking at this situation as if it were the government board for medical assistants looking at the same issue. He should not make a decision that is above his job description and out of his scope of practice. This could cause serious problems leading to Jerry possible losing his job. Jerry has a scratch of ethical motive that he needs to abide. The patients safety should be what Jerry is concerned with.Major legal and ethical issues that may affect Jerrys decision are very clear in this situation. If Jerry authorizes this prescription without the physicians direction he is practicing outside of his scope as a medical assistant and will lose not only his job, yet his license. Ethically, he is knowingly performing an illegal act and can be held accountable for this in a court of law. Some problem-solving methods that might be helpful to assist in making an ethical decision are for Jerry to review his code of ethics.This will educate Jerry that the code of ethics of American Association of Medical Assistants sh all set forth principles of ethical and moral ingest as they relate to the medical profession and the particular practice of medical assisting, render service with full respect for the dignity of humanity, and uphold the repay and high principles of the profession and accept its disciplines (Fremgen, 2009, p. 328). Another ethical way to problem-solve this issue it to simply call the physician to let him know this patient is in need of a refill which needs to be called in as soon as possible for the patient.This will place the responsibility hazard to the physician where it should be. Jerry should instruct the patient that authorizing a refill without the physicians direction is against the law, and Jerry will notify the physician right away to make him aware of the patients needs. In conclusion, Jerry should stick to his code of ethics as a medical assistant and handle the prescription dilemma as any medical assistant should do within his scope of practice.Jerry should also tak e into consideration that any ethical decisions he makes can result in the physician he works for being held accountable for Jerrys actions. The advice for Jerry to call the physician to make him aware of the patients needs would allow him to make the best ethical and legal decision available. Like any working professional, Jerry is held to a code of ethics that he took a pledge to uphold, and should remember this when dealing with the safety of any patient.