Discussion – Ethical dilemmas in medication administration

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.

1. Bethanaechol / cholinergics: Consider risks of inducing urgency or bradycardia in a clients with dementia issues
2. Benztropine /anticholinergics: Consider harms that can occur with comorbidities like glaucoma or BPH
3. Albuterol /adrenergics: Consider harms that can occur is asthmatic children are in charge of their own inhalers
4. Atenolol/ beta blockers: Consider harms that could occur if heart rate was low or patient was asthmatic
5. Lorazepam /benzodiazepines: Consider vulnerability issues related to sedation and induction of memory loss
6. Oxycodone / opiates: Consider addiction, drug seeking and patient vulnerability in impaired nurses
7. Amitriptylline /tricyclics: Consider vulnerability issues with risk of suicidal overdose given anticholinergic effects
8. Phenelzine /MAOIs: Consider consequences of nonadherence to dietary restrictions on these medications
9. Haloperidol / neuroleptics: Consider risks of chemical sedation, especially long term risks
10. Lithium: Consider risks of mismanagement by clients whose behaviors are unpredictable
11. Phenytoin / antiepileptics: Consider risks of Class D in young women vs risks of going without anti-epileptics
12. Secobarbital / barbituates: Consider risks related to availability of barbituates to teens via the internet
13. Kava or Valerian: Consider risks of availability of compounding poorly controlled over the counter sedatives
14. Sumatriptan / triptans: Consider risks of cerebral ischemia when giving vasoconstrictors for migraine control
15. Cyclobenzaprine for back spasms: Consider risks of impaired function when nurses take muscle relaxants
16. Prednisone / steroids: Consider long term effects, when other immune suppressors are too expensive to access.