Question

You find yourself speaking to the patient before you know the details of the prescribing and administration errors. That is, you are pretty sure that you prescribed an inappropriately large dose, but you don't know how much medication the patient received or who administered it. What do you tell the patient?

A) You experienced harm due to a medical intervention. We think your nurse gave you the wrong dose of medication. I wrote the prescription for it incorrectly. We're looking into it now.
B) Your problem seems to be the result of receiving the wrong dose of medication. Our number-one concern right now is to make sure that you are safe, and we will take care of you with the best skill and experience available. As soon as we've done that, we're going to figure out what happened and tell you. I am very sorry that this happened.
C) I cannot tell you what happened. You have to wait until we complete our investigation.
D) We believe you had an allergic reaction to a medication. Although it was no one's fault, we are sorry it happened.

Answer 1

The best response to give a patient after a potential medication error is one that prioritizes their safety, commits to thorough investigation, and expresses regret, all while refraining from assigning premature blame.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate response for a medical professional to a patient after a potential medication error would focus on honesty and patient safety while avoiding premature blame before the situation is fully investigated. Option B reflects these principles well. It acknowledges that there may have been an issue with the medication dosage, emphasizes the immediate priority of ensuring the patient's safety, and commits to a thorough investigation following the stabilization of the patient's condition. Moreover, this option conveys regret for the incident and implies a promise of transparency once more details are available. Providing accurate and clear information is crucial in such scenarios to maintain trust and ensure that the patient feels supported and informed.