Am I doing the right thing???

[Bao.vn]

Hi all,

I'm so upset right now, just get off work. Here the situation: My patient was admitted yesterday with possible TIA, she was confused yesterday however she is very alert and oriented. She has very poor appetite and has vomitted 2 times with undigested food. Her sodium is 120 and she on sodium tab three times/day (yesterday her sodium was 121). Anyway I called Dr and inserted Dobhoff per order. I did explain to my pt before I put the dobhoff. Her daughter-inlaw (she is family practice) came and not happy with the dobhoff. she said why I didn't talk to her before put it It doesn't take that long to phone her. I answered because she throw up and Dr concerned about pt nutrition so we insert dobhoff for tube feeding. I also told her that I can page Dr and let she talk with him but she refuse to she said it's too late I already torture her mother. I did page Dr and inform that she is not happy, Dr chew me up on the phone and didn't let me finish. I gave the phone to daughter and let them talk. I didn't stay in the room and listen. I am so upset right now I am in tear when I am typing. Am I doing the right thing? What should I do if I face with this situation???

Thanks alot for letting me vent.

[Sharon]

Bao.vn

Since you did not state the patient had been declared incompetent, what written permission/release/guardianship/ POA did you have in writing to share the information with the family member? If you do not have written release then gently blow both doctors off by reminding them that "I am sure you are not asking me to break a law that could have criminal consequences for me and you?"

[Mijourney]

Hi Bao vn. In my opinion, legal concerns can complicate the devil out of patient care when you're involved in an urgent or emergent situation. Your post indicates that you had no malicious intent towards your patient and was doing what you felt was important for the patient at the time and what the doctor ordered. I do agree with previous posters who have brought up the subject of advance directives and informed consent. In this day and age, just about everything done to the patient has to be consented to in writing.

I agree that notifying the emergency contact for a patient when a procedure is to be done, however so minor is important for cya. You did what you knew to be best for the patient. Just make sure that you have documented thoroughly.