Question

An adult client who is competent tells the nurse that he is thinking about leaving the hospital against medical advice. The nurse believes that this is not in the client's best interest, so she administers a PRN sedative med that the client has not requested along w/his usual meds. Which of the following tort has the nurse committed?

A. Assault
B. False imprisonment
C. Negligence
D. Breach of confidentiality

Answer 1

The nurse has committed the tort of False imprisonment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse in this scenario has committed the tort of False imprisonment. False imprisonment occurs when a person is unlawfully restrained against their will without their consent. In this case, the nurse administered a sedative medication without the client's request or consent, which effectively restrains the client and prevents him from leaving the hospital.

It is important to note that in this situation, the nurse's actions were not in the client's best interest and violated the principle of nonmaleficence, which requires healthcare professionals to act in ways that do not cause harm to others. The nurse should have pursued other legal and ethical avenues to address the client's desire to leave the hospital, such as discussing his concerns, consulting with the healthcare team, or involving the client's family.