Question

You are the director of pharmacy at a large regional medical center. It has come to your attention that Dr. Smith, a hospital oncologist, has been prescribing medicines for cancer patients that are not labeled for cancer treatment. While "off-label" prescription is not against the law, you now recall a recent interview Dr. Smith did on a radio talk show. During that interview Dr. Smith talked about his discovery of the effectiveness of green-tea, honey and homeopathic treatments for cancer patients. Such a "holistic" approach to medicine has a certain appeal, especially to patients who have received a poor prognosis. Many cancer patients who were told they have only a few months to live by their doctors have come to your hospital from hundreds of miles away to be treated by Dr. Smith.

In addition to his work at your hospital, Dr. Smith owns and runs a clinic located in a poor Mississippi Delta community. When your hospital recently replaced its old outdated sterilizer machines, Dr. Smith asked if he could have one of the old machines for use at his clinic. Dr. Smith is well known and most of his patients like him. Last year he received an award from a religious group for his service to the poor. However, you know that Dr. Smith recently divorced his third wife. Her lawyer, known for her aggressive style and hard bargaining, won a huge alimony and support judgment worth $3 million against Dr. Smith. Rumor is that Dr. Smith is struggling financially, because he sold one of his sports cars.

How should you handle this situation? In your paper, be sure to consider the responsibilities and interests of your department, as well as the hospital. Include the issues of insurance reimbursement, standard of care, informed consent, public image of the hospital, and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. Are there other legal issues? Are there other moral or ethical issues?

Answer 1

Being a director of pharmacy it is my duty to inform the authorities that medication which is being prescribed to patient labelled as anticancer is not the cancer medication and . It is illegal and unethical to do so and play with the minds of those poor patient who are coming from far places in hope of being getting treated.

As Dr smith is a renowed personality so its is very difficult to complain against him but this is the matter of hospital reputation so I will inform my medicla suprintendent about the malpractice and . And anyhow patient might come to know if medical insurance company will not reimburse so it is not good for the reputation of hospital .

And being as director of pharmacy medico legal case may be raised againste of I will not speak about it when I kbow the situation very well .

Dr smith also took old outdated sterilizer machine for his clinic in delta region for poor people . But by winning the hearts of thoae poors he is olaying with their life . There should be definately medicolegal case should be lodged to stop such forged people who are playing with life and sentiments of the people because it is not good for whole medical fraternity .

I think i will suggest my siprintendent to silently first throw him out from our hospital as it is the repuration of our hospital . Then file a complain against him him of medical negligence which he is doing knowingly what he is doing is medical negligence not mishap and high authroities should charge him for that .

If he wants to use holistic approach for treatmenr then he should inform hi patient that it is just the holistic approach but not cancer treatment so that his patients know that what he is doing is just a step but not tje treatment and je is not cheating the patient . But what he is doing is presribing cancer medication which are not anticancer drug is a serious offence and crimw .

I will lodgeva complaint from my sidebrest depend on authorities how they tackle the situation . They know it best