A nurse practitioner (NP) cared for a 15-year-old male at an outpatient clinic. The chief complaints of the 15-year-old and his mother at the time of the visit included a lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and some abdominal pain. A urine test revealed hematuria, and the NP diagnosed the patient with viral gastroenteritis. One week later, the patient is transported to the emergency room with a ruptured appendix, requiring immediate surgery. The patient fully recovered from the emergency appendectomy. The parents of the patient file a lawsuit against the NP for malpractice and the outpatient clinic for inadequate supervision of the NP, claiming that a correct diagnosis would have prevented prolonged discomfort and emergency surgery, as well as their loss of wages resulting from the presurgical and postsurgical care needed for their son. You are an NP who has been hired as an expert witness and consultant by the insurance company representing the outpatient clinic. The attorney representing the NP has asked you to review the case and identify any concerns or further information that would help in resolving this case.

| PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT studenthelp.contentfence.com |

Case Questions

Because the NP is being accused of malpractice, you are asked to review the case to determine whether malpractice has occurred based on the required conditions. What are the three conditions that must exist to establish malpractice?
While reviewing the case file, you note that the insurance company is representing the clinic. If the clinic is determined to be “not guilty” of failing to provide adequate supervision of the NP, how could this affect the NP?
What should you seek to determine whether a breach of, or deviation from, the standard of care occurred, given the patient scenario of misdiagnosed appendicitis? Do you need additional information?
You have been asked to provide a written report of your review to be shared with the insurance company and the clinic as to whether you believe the NP has acted reasonably and if, in the same situation, you would have responded the same way.
What are some tips you could give the NP to avoid or reduce the possibility of legal issues?

SAMPLE SOLUTION

For the NP’s case to be thought of as a malpractice, it should exhibit three of the following conditions. First, the case should have caused damages. Secondly, it is a malpractice if | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT studenthelp.contentfence.com | involved neglected his or her duties to the patient by misdiagnosing the condition (Grant, 2017). Lastly, the case can be considered malpractice if there is a causal connection between the breach and injury caused to the patient.

| PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT studenthelp.contentfence.com |

A “not guilty” verdict would mean that the NP acted of his or her own volition, by ignoring any insight and supervision provided by the healthcare facility. In order to determine if th| PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT studenthelp.contentfence.com |rovided by the NP, the management would need to take into consideration the steps observed in coming up with the treatment intervention. Besides the facility’s reports, it is crucial….