The provider asks the medical assistant to irrigate a patient’s ear for removal of impacted cerumen. She prepares the irrigating solution but can’t find the thermometer to check the temperature of the solution. She inserts the syringe straight into the ear and begins irrigation. While the medical assistant is irrigating the patient’s ear, the patient complains of pain and a burning sensation in the ear. The medical assistant continues the irrigation anyway, despite the patient’s complaints, because the provider is in a hurry and is running behind.

Did the medical assistant have the syringe properly positioned?