Beneficence and the law: Common law: Scenario
- A doctor misapplies a drug and a patient’s condition deteriorates as a result. The patient has to spend an extra week in hospital, during which attempts are made to assist her to recover using the appropriate drug. During the extra week in bed, the patient suffers severe side-effects as a result of being given the wrong medication, and also loses her wages for the week.
- The doctor is unsure whether to report to the hospital that he had administered the wrong medication, which caused the harm to the patient, and required her to spend the extra week in hospital.
- How should the doctor handle the situation to ensure that he acts ethically and legally?