Malpractice Insurance Case Study Essay

1.3 Assignment

Nashaly Alverio

Florida Technical College

1.3 Assignment: Case Studies

Case 1:

Jerry McCall is Dr. William’s office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and an LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in 30 minutes. He says that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time (Fremgen, 2016, p. 96).

a. What should he do? Jerry should call or message Dr. Williams and

Is there an ethical or legal problem with Dr. Williams’ action?

This is an ethical problem with Dr. Williams actions, Dr. Williams told the patient that he would not prescribe her the medication based on his moral beliefs and conscience.

Case 3:

Dennis tells his father that he wishes to study to be a Physician Assistant (PA). He says, “It’s a great field. I can work independently and do almost everything the doctor does without having the high cost of malpractice insurance” (Fremgen, 2016, p. 97).

a. Is Dennis’ statement to his father correct?

PA are supervised by physicians, they can and do make errors for which their supervising physicians aren’t responsible for. This occurs when the PA consults with the physician who provides satisfactory supervision, but the PA then fails to carry it out properly. When a patient is medically hurt they sometimes sue everyone who could possibly have been involved.

b. What does a PA do? Will Dennis work independently of a physician if he becomes a PA? PA are state license medical professionals and certified nationally they practice medicine with physicians and prescribe medication in every state, U.S territories, the District of Columbia, and the uniformed

When he entered the emergency room (ER) he was placed in a wheelchair and briefly seen by an ER doctor. He was told that he could not be admitted because he was a veteran and had to go to a VA hospital, which was 90 minutes away, for treatment. David was wheeled into the hallway to wait for transportation to a VA hospital. The night shift was very busy. After sitting in the hall for five hours, David complained that he needed to lie down. The ER staff, who had been trying to move him to a VA hospital with no luck, finally transferred him by ambulance to a local nursing home. David had a massive stroke shortly after being admitted to the nursing home and died six weeks later (Fremgen, 2016, p. 161).

a. Does there appear to be negligence in this case?

Yes in this case there appears to be negligence, David was told after being seen by the doctor that he could not be admitted because he was a veteran and had to go to a VA hospital for treatment which was 90 minutes away. David was sitting at the hall way for five hours and he complained that he needed to lie down. Afterwards David was taken to a nursing home because the VA hospital couldn’t been reached and later David had a stroke after being admitted to the nursing home. David pass away weeks later.

b. In your opinion, who might have acted on behalf of