Question

Malpractice (professional negligence):

A. A nurse accidentally spills water on a patient's bed during routine rounds
B. A doctor prescribes a medication known to have adverse effects without informing the patient
C. A medical assistant forgets to restock supplies in the examination room
D. A pharmacist provides a generic brand instead of the prescribed medication

Answer 1

Malpractice in medicine occurs when healthcare professionals fail to provide an acceptable standard of care, resulting in harm to patients. Examples include prescribing medications without informing the patient, providing the wrong medication, and not following ethical guidelines.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the question is Medicine. Malpractice, also known as professional negligence, occurs when healthcare professionals fail to provide an acceptable standard of care, resulting in harm or injury to a patient. In the given options, examples of malpractice include:

1. A. A nurse accidentally spilling water on a patient's bed during routine rounds is a minor error that may not cause harm.
2. B. A doctor prescribing a medication known to have adverse effects without informing the patient can cause harm.
3. C. A medical assistant forgetting to restock supplies in the examination room may inconvenience the healthcare provider but generally does not cause harm to the patient.
4. D. A pharmacist providing a generic brand instead of the prescribed medication can potentially harm the patient if there are specific instructions or contraindications for the prescribed medication.

It is important for healthcare professionals to follow ethical guidelines and the principle of nonmaleficence, which states that they should act in ways that do not cause harm to others. In cases of malpractice, patients have the right to hold healthcare providers accountable for their actions.