Legal And Ethical Aspects of Medical Practices For Pediatric Patients Essay

ADHD Medication Case Study

Introduction

Addressing the mother’s medication requests requires a thorough assessment and communication of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). I would begin by discussing and explaining the medication with the pediatric patient’s mother. I would educate the mother about the potential risks and benefits of medicine based on the available research for pediatric use (Dekkers et al., 2022). Secondly, I would check on the patient’s past medical history to assess the clinical factors, such as the severity of symptoms, previous treatment response, and potential side effects. Legal And Ethical Aspects of Medical Practices For Pediatric Patients Essay

Prescribing off-label medication involves legal and ethical considerations. Therefore, I would discuss with the mother the lack of FDA approval for the requested medication and seek informed consent after she has understood the risk factors of the medication program chosen (Chang et al., 2021). The three off-label psychiatric drugs for pediatric use include Quetiapine (Seroquel). While approved for psychiatric conditions in adults, its use in children is off-label and associated with metabolic effects like weight gain. Secondly, Fluoxetine (Prozac) is a broader off-label use for psychiatric conditions and has effects of suicidal ideation and behavioral changes. Finally, Clonidine use in ADH creates a sedative effect and hypotension, hence requiring careful monitoring in pediatric patients (Parlatini et al., 2023).Legal And Ethical Aspects of Medical Practices For Pediatric Patients Essay

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Patient education will be based on the importance of regular follow-up and monitoring of medication effectiveness and potential side effects. Finally, the family should be educated on signs of drug side effects and instructed to contact the healthcare provider promptly. Evidence-based practice would involve following up with recent studies on pediatric psychopharmacology and guidelines from reputable organizations like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Parlatini et al., 2023). Legal And Ethical Aspects of Medical Practices For Pediatric Patients Essay

Conclusion

Navigating the request for an off-label medication involves open communication, comprehensive assessment, and consideration of legal and ethical aspects of medical practices for pediatric patients.

References

Chang, J. P. C., Su, K. P., Mondelli, V., & Pariante, C. M. (2021). Cortisol and inflammatory biomarker levels in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): evidence from a systematic review with meta-analysis. Translational psychiatry, 11(1), 430.

Dekkers, T. J., de Water, E., & Scheres, A. (2022). Impulsive and risky decision-making in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): The need for a developmental perspective. Current opinion in psychology, 44, 330-336.

Parlatini, V., Itahashi, T., Lee, Y., Liu, S., Nguyen, T. T., Aoki, Y. Y., … & Cortese, S. (2023). White matter alterations in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of 129 diffusion imaging studies with meta-analysis. Molecular Psychiatry, 1-26. Legal And Ethical Aspects of Medical Practices For Pediatric Patients Essay

Adults and children respond to medications differently. Some potential safety concerns are required when prescribing psychotropic medications for children and adolescents. You were to evaluate a 14-year-old Caucasian female diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The mother asked you to prescribe a medication that worked well for a neighbor’s child who was also diagnosed with ADHD but seeing a different provider. You know as PMHNP that the drug she is requesting is off-label medication for ADHD.

In a 1-2 page paper,

Describe how you would proceed with the mother’s request
Explain the circumstances, in which you would prescribe an off-label drug to a pediatric patient.
Describe any legal or ethical issues involved with prescribing off-label medication to the pediatric population.
Provide the description and names of at least three off-label psychiatric drugs that require extra care and attention when used in pediatrics.
Discuss patient teaching for the family. Legal And Ethical Aspects of Medical Practices For Pediatric Patients Essay