Nokea
An infant's current weight indicates that the maximum safe dose of Tylenol is 30 mg by mouth. The physician orders 65 mg to be given, the pharmacist is responsible for filling the medication order, and the nurse administers Tylenol 65 mg. Who is legally responsible in the event that the infant has a toxic reaction to the medication?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The pharmacist is legally responsible in this situation because they are the healthcare professional authorized to dispense medications according to the physician's order. In this case, the physician ordered a dose higher than the maximum safe dose recommended based on the infant's current weight. While the nurse administers the medication, the pharmacist has the responsibility to ensure that the correct dose is dispensed and to alert the physician if there is a discrepancy in the order. If the pharmacist dispensed the incorrect dose without verifying with the physician, they would bear legal responsibility for any adverse effects resulting from the medication error.