Question

In the absence of the employing physician, a medical assistant determines that a patient needs a prescription drug and dispenses the wrong drug from the physician's supply. The performance of this totally wrongful and unlawful act is known as:

a.malfeasance.
b.misfeasance.
c.nonfeasance.

Answer 1

Misfeasance refers to the improper performance of a lawful act, such as dispensing the wrong drug. Option b. is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The act described, where a medical assistant dispenses the wrong drug, is termed misfeasance, signifying the improper execution of a normally lawful action. Specifically, misfeasance involves the wrongful performance of an act that is typically legal, and in this instance, it encompasses the medical assistant's error in determining and dispensing the medication.

Misfeasance is distinguished from malfeasance, which involves engaging in an inherently wrongful or unlawful act. In contrast, the medical assistant's actions are not intentionally unlawful but rather represent a mistake or deviation from the correct procedure.

In this scenario, the medical assistant, in the absence of the employing physician, incorrectly identified the patient's need for a prescription drug and dispensed the wrong medication from the physician's supply. This error falls within the realm of misfeasance because it pertains to the improper execution of a task that is normally part of the medical assistant's responsibilities.

Recognizing and addressing misfeasance is crucial for maintaining the standards of professional conduct in healthcare settings. It underscores the importance of accuracy and diligence in the performance of duties, even in the absence of direct supervision.