While providing healthcare services, medical practitioners may encounter challenging situations that require adherence to established protocols and guidelines. A nurse attorney can serve as the RN’s legal advocate, ensuring their rights are protected during legal proceedings and providing expert advice throughout the case.
At the time of the incident, RN was employed as an Acute Care Adult Nurse Practitioner at a medical spa in McAllen, Texas, and had been in that position for six (6) months.
On or about May 21, 2021, through December 8, 2021, while employed as an Acute Care Adult Nurse Practitioner at a medical spa in McAllen, Texas, RN implanted testosterone pellets into a patient, a female patient with normal testosterone levels, without written protocols to follow regarding testosterone treatment. Additionally, RN prescribed spironolactone off-label to the patient to address side effects from increased testosterone levels. Testosterone is not approved for use in female patients. The patient experienced elevated testosterone levels to 472 ng/dL. RN’s conduct exposed the patient to a potential risk of harm from adverse effects of unnecessary testosterone dosing, including risk of increased hemoglobin and hematocrit, and heart attack or stroke
In response, RN states that the patient was informed that implantable pellets are monitored by the FDA but are not approved for use in this context and are not regulated by the FDA; the patient signed the consent form which includes this information. RN states that she prescribed spironolactone to help prevent the adverse effects of testosterone replacement, such as hirsutism and/or acne. RN states that testosterone has been shown to address poor libido and decreased mood/cognition in women and has been used in women by many practitioners for many years.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(M)&(4)(B) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B)&(4).
The Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the RN and her license into disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled Texas Nurse Attorney, had the RN hired one. Hiring a Texas Nurse Attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced Texas Nurse Attorney, Yong J. An. He is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 300 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 16 years. You can call him at (832) 428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.