In this assignment, you will do what you do every workday: make a clinical judgment. A case study is presented, and you will resolve the issue after considering the case from an ethical and legal perspective. You will utilize the assigned readings from the text and associated articles to assist you in applying the content to a case study. Read the following case and write an essay addressing the case questions. Case Study Javier Lopez was recently diagnosed with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes and is to receive discharge plan about his condition. You are the nurse discharging the patient from the hospital and have worked with the diabetic educator in developing a wonderful diabetic teaching protocol for the hospital. Dr. Chow, one of the “good old boys,” tells you not to teach his patient anything. “He is my patient and I’ll teach him what he needs to know. I do not want you interfering in my patient’s care—not now or ever.” Case Study Questions How would you proceed in this instance? Does Dr. Chow have the final say about his patient in all aspects of their care? What are the ethical principles involved in working with this physician? What ethical principles does the nurse have with regard to the patient? How might the nurse utilize the MORAL Ethical Model to proceed in dealing with this case? According to which standard or regulation would the nurse be negligent if he or she did not teach the patient? Is this case appropriate for whistleblowing and why? Could this lead to negative consequences for the nurse? If Mr. Lopez should later develop severe complications from his lack of patient education, what legal implications might there be for the nurse? How do you see this situation finally being resolved?
