How should a PA report an adverse drug event to the supervising physician?

• A. Promptly notify the supervisor, document the event, assess causality, adjust treatment as needed, and report to appropriate oversight bodies if required.
• B. Report to patient only, with no supervisor notification.
• C. Wait until the next annual review.
• D. Only document for internal records; no notification needed.

Answer: (A)

Prompt, coordinated action is essential when an adverse drug event occurs. The best approach is to immediately notify the supervising physician, then document the event in the patient’s chart, assess causality to determine if the drug is likely responsible, adjust the treatment plan as needed, and report to the appropriate oversight bodies if required by policy or law. This sequence ensures patient safety, keeps the supervising physician in the loop for clinical decisions, preserves a clear medical record, and supports broader safety monitoring when regulatory reporting is mandated.

Reporting to the patient alone, delaying notification until the next annual review, or only keeping internal records without informing the supervising physician or taking clinical action fails to protect the patient and meets none of the professional responsibilities involved in managing drug-related harm.