An 82-Year-Old Man with Advanced Alzheimer's Disease Is Taken to the Hospital

An 82-year-old man with advanced Alzheimer's disease is taken to the hospital by his daughter, who serves as his power of attorney and carer. Her father, she claims, is becoming increasingly disoriented and verbally hostile. He gets brought to the hospital after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Intravenous antibiotics are started, and he seems less disoriented and agitated, but he is unable to recall nursing instructions and is mostly silent during the day. The antibiotic order expires three days into his treatment and is overlooked by the doctor, nurses, and pharmacy personnel. The patient is not given medicine for two days before the problem is discovered and fixed. This error has no consequences other than extending his hospital stay by 2 days Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action?

A) Do not disclose the error as the patient was not harmed
B) Do not disclose the error but arrange for the hospital to not charge for the extra days
C) Inform the daughter and disclose the error with an apology
D) Inform the patient and disclose the error with an apology
E) Say nothing until the incident is discussed with nursing and pharmacy staff

Correct Answer:

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