Ethical dilemma:
The ethics of medical errors
November 2006
You are a nurse working in the busy oncology ward of an under-staffed major hospital. In your presence another nurse - a close friend of yours - accidentally injects the wrong medication into a terminally ill patient. The patient dies within twenty-four hours.
You feel sure that the incorrect medication caused the patient to pass away earlier than he would have otherwise, but he was seriously ill and had no longer than a few days to live.
A family member of the man, while very much saddened by her relative's death, tells you that she is also relieved that his suffering is finally over.
Your friend is deeply upset about her error, but she begs you not to tell anyone and assures you it could never happen again.
Ethical questions:
- What are the issues?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What should you do?
- What would you do?
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