undertake a critical analysis of the accountability, legal and ethical issues facing you as a future prescriber in a patient prescribing scenario in your area of practice.
Portfolio – Element 1 Law, Accountability and Ethics Assignment
Level 3 – Additional Guidance
The assessment requires you to undertake a critical analysis of the accountability, legal and ethical issues
facing you as a future prescriber in a patient prescribing scenario in your area of practice. All three
elements should be included. The maximum word count allowed is 1,500 words.
The scenario you choose will be one of your own choice but here are some common examples:
1. A patient came into the consultation with a piece of paper from the internet. He asked the doctor to
prescribe the drug named on the paper. As a future prescriber I may face a similar situation. The purpose
of my assignment is to explore the issues of law, accountability and ethics raised by this situation.
2. After assessment of a patient with a long term condition you decide a prescription for anticipatory
medicines are required. As a future prescriber this situation may occur. During the assignment I will
explore the law, accountability and ethics of prescribing anticipatory medicines.
3. Once qualified I will be prescribing for children. The cBNF states that most medicines prescribed for
children are prescribed unlicensed or out of license. As a future prescriber, I focus my writing on the law,
accountability and ethics of prescribing unlicensed or out of license medicines for children.
4. In my role I will be expected to prescribe repeat medicines for patients in the practice. I will explore the
law, accountability and ethics of prescribing in this situation.
5. During my supervision a non medical prescriber was asked by a colleague to prescribe on her behalf. I
could be asked to do the same once qualified. I will explore the issues of law, accountability and ethics
raised by prescribing on behalf of others.
6. My patient has symptoms managed by drug therapy but does not adhere to the treatment plan. There
are discussions amongst the team; with colleagues querying why clinicians should continue to prescribe
this expensive drug when it is not being taken? will explore the issues of law, accountability and ethics
raised by this scenario.
7. I work in a practice area where the same person may be required to both prescribe and administer the
medicine. This is a situation I may also find myself in. I therefore intend to explore the law, accountability
and ethics of being a prescriber in this situation.
8. During supervision I observed prescribing for patients for whom English is not their first language. This
presented challenges for the prescriber and is a situation I am likely to face as a future prescriber. I will
explore the law, accountability and ethics of prescribing in this situation.
Marking
Students must achieve a pass mark of 40%.
Critical Analysis
Students work is marked against the school assessment criteria for level 3.
Students are required to critically discuss prescribing in their future area of prescribing practice.
Author: Dianne Bowskill. Last updated October 2020.
You are required to write in the first person; drawing on published literature from professional
documents, published papers and authoritative textbooks.
Critical discussion of the law, accountability and ethical issues raised in your area of practice should
be evident.
Students are expected to read widely and refer to appropriate primary and secondary evidence with
reference to up-to-date professional literatures of law, accountability and ethics.
The submission should begin with a very brief description of the prescribing area 2-3 sentences should be
sufficient. Below are examples of the word count and content for each section. The context for the critical
discussion is you as a future prescriber
Introduction
150 words Brief description of the prescribing area. Provide a rationale for your scenario choice for you
as a future prescriber
Accountability
400 words Explore areas of accountability in the context of practice. It can be useful here to structure
using the spheres or pillars of accountability Explore each critically; discussing application to your patient
scenario and you as a future prescriber
Law
400 words You should discuss both criminal and civil law issues raised (or potentially raised) by your
scenario. You must include the legal framework of independent and supplementary prescribing. You are
expected to demonstrate an understanding of this through application of independent and supplementary
prescribing to your prescribing scenario. Think about what is expected of a competent prescriber. Draw on
civil law to critically explore scenarios where things could go wrong. Consider competence and draw on
case law examples such as Bolam and Bolitho, prudent patient etc.
Ethics
400 words – Identify the ethical issues raised by prescribing in your area of practice. It is useful here to use
an ethical framework to structure this discussion. Most students use Beauchamp and Childress non
maleficence, beneficence, autonomy and justice. Consider patient influences and the cost of prescribing.
Critically discuss each in the context of your prescribing area.
Conclusion
150 words Avoid saying what you would or would not do. If you get it wrong or there is a potential
contravention of professional or legal standards the work will fail. Draw on the key issues you have
discussed in the three sections in the context of you as a future prescriber.
