Legal and medical issues in therapeutic interchange: implications for pharmacists, physicians, and P & T committees.
In today's health care environment, pharmacists, physicians, P & T Committees, hospital administrators and other clinicians involved in therapeutic interchange issues should be knowledgeable about the legal and medical issues associated with this practice. In this paper, a general discussion of liability under tort law is provided, followed by a specific discussion of the legal aspects of therapeutic interchange. In addition, steps that hospitals, P & T Committees, physicians, and pharmacists can take to establish sound therapeutic interchange policies--and thus reduce liability risks--are presented. Armed with this knowledge, clinicians and administrators can continue to provide cost-effective, patient-oriented care that uphold their professional responsibilities.
Plumeri
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PA
Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX 75231.
Crane
V S
VS
D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010606:Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D012957:Societies, Pharmaceutical; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D014481:United States