Question

Choose a medication type from the following list, note why the medication is used, and consider adverse effects. Invent a scenario where giving this medication could result in an ethical or legally charged situation. Try not to choose a category that has been well addressed by your peers.

Bethanaechol / cholinergics: Consider risks of inducing urgency or bradycardia in a clients with dementia issues

Benztropine /anticholinergics: Consider harms that can occur with comorbidities like glaucoma or BPH

Albuterol /adrenergics: Consider harms that can occur is asthmatic children are in charge of their own inhalers

Atenolol/ beta blockers: Consider harms that could occur if heart rate was low or patient was asthmatic

Lorazepam /benzodiazepines: Consider vulnerability issues related to sedation and induction of memory loss

Oxycodone / opiates: Consider addiction, drug seeking and patient vulnerability in impaired nurses

Amitriptylline /tricyclics: Consider vulnerability issues with risk of suicidal overdose given anticholinergic effects

Phenelzine /MAOIs: Consider consequences of nonadherence to dietary restrictions on these medications

Haloperidol / neuroleptics: Consider risks of chemical sedation, especially long term risks

Lithium: Consider risks of mismanagement by clients whose behaviors are unpredictable

Phenytoin / antiepileptics: Consider risks of Class D in young women vs risks of going without anti-epileptics

Secobarbital / barbituates: Consider risks related to availability of barbituates to teens via the internet

Kava or Valerian: Consider risks of availability of compounding poorly controlled over the counter sedatives

Sumatriptan / triptans: Consider risks of cerebral ischemia when giving vasoconstrictors for migraine control

Cyclobenzaprine for back spasms: Consider risks of impaired function when nurses take muscle relaxants

Prednisone / steroids: Consider long term effects, when other immune suppressors are too expensive to access.

Aspirin / NSAIDs: Consider vulnerability of elders due to over the counter, affordable nature of this analgesic

Answer 1

Benztropine is an anticholinergic which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, parKinsonism and dystonia as it opposes the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Adverse effects : dry mouth, blurred vision, cognition changes,constipation, urinary retention, tachycardia, anorexia, severe delirium and hallucination

Benztropine when given to glaucoma patient will cause mydriasis and may exacerbate this condition.

A patient was brought to ED who has suddenly collapse on the pavement vitals signs show a heart rate of 38beats per minute, respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, blood pressure of 128/72mm of He as the patient was about experience cardiac arrest the ED doctor adviced the nurse to give inj. Benztropine 0.5mg stat. Once patient was in a stable condition when history was collected.. Patient is a case of BPH and it is harmful for the patient. Hence it can lead to ethical and legal issues