The nurse forgets to give the patient a dose of antibiotic. Later in the shift, the patient goes into cardiac arrest and dies. What element is lacking to support malpractice?
a. Duty of care
b. Breach of duty
c. Specific injury
d. Proximate cause
ANS: D
A
There is nothing to support that the nurse did not assume the duty of care of the patient.
B
Although the nurse breached her duty by not administering the antibiotic, there also has to be support that this action caused the injury.
C
Although one might claim injury (cardiac arrest and death), the link to the nurse's action is not supported.
D
There is no support that failing to administer the antibiotic caused the cardiac arrest and death.
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