Frances Taylor, a 55-year-old woman, was diagnosed with COVID-19 and sought medical treatment from Dr. Michelle Allan, an experienced physician working at City General Hospital. Dr. Allan was responsible for prescribing appropriate medications and monitoring Frances’ condition throughout her treatment.
On July 14, 2023, Frances Taylor was admitted to City General Hospital with severe COVID-19 symptoms. Dr. Allan examined her and confirmed the diagnosis. She prescribed a standard treatment protocol, which included antiviral medication (Drug A) and corticosteroids (Drug B) to manage Frances’ symptoms and aid in her recovery.
Due to the overwhelming number of COVID-19 cases during the pandemic, the hospital experienced high patient loads, resulting in increased stress on the medical staff. Dr. Allan, overwhelmed with her workload, failed to provide clear and specific instructions regarding the prescribed medication dosages to the nursing staff.
The nursing staff, under time pressure and miscommunication, misinterpreted Dr. Allan’s prescription instructions for the antiviral medication (Drug A) dosage. Instead of administering the appropriate dosage of 200 mg, they administered an excessively high dose of 2,000 mg to Frances Taylor for 5 consecutive days.
It took 5 days for the hospital staff to recognize the medication error. During this time, Frances experienced adverse effects, including severe nausea, vomiting, and kidney disfunction. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, requiring additional medical intervention and increased hospitalization.
Once the error was discovered, an investigation was initiated by the hospital administration. It was confirmed that the medication error resulted from a breakdown in communication between Dr. Allan and nursing staff. Upon being discharged from the hospital after recovery, Frances Taylor sought legal advice and chose to file a medical malpractice suit against Dr. Allan and the hospital.
Write a 750-1,000-word proposal in which you will resolve the ethical dilemma presented in the selected scenario. Be sure to address the following in your proposal:
Dimensions of the ethical dilemma presented in the scenario, including a chart of the steps an administrator would take to resolve the dilemma.
Principles of ethical decision-making that guided your resolution.
Current legal precedent and health care policies that informed your resolution.
Support your proposal with a minimum of three scholarly resources (not including the textbook). Reference must have URL.
