Examine the implications for ethical and legal issues and determine how to respond appropriately. Examine the legal and moral implications of drug prescriptions, non-disclosure and disclosure. Examine the case study provided by your instructor.
Nondisclosure can also present ethical dilemmas since withholding certain information from a patient may not always be in their best interest – for example, if a physician knows of an alternative treatment option but decides against sharing it due to cost considerations then this could constitute malpractice. Disclosure of information without consent, such as sharing confidential medical data without authorization, can also lead to lawsuits and other liability for healthcare providers. In the end, all decisions related to prescription drug usage should be taken in the spirit of what is best for the patient and following all applicable guidelines. This includes those with legal or ethical implications.