Mistakes Surrounding Pediatric Hospital Admission

A 5-year-old presents to the emergency department. She was diagnosed with pyelonephritis by her physician yesterday, treated with an intramuscular injection of antibiotic and sent home on an oral antibiotic. She is vomiting today and unable to keep the antibiotic down. As you prepare to admit her, you feel she should have been admitted yesterday.

• Should you tell the parents that their physician made a mistake?
• How should you handle this disagreement?
• What are your legal and ethical arguments for both informing and not informing the parents about the mistake?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)