title: Treating drug-dependent patients in hospitals.
abstract: Are hospital staff legally permitted to test drug-dependent patients for drugs or infectious disease without the patient's consent in order to treat the patient or to protect themselves or other patients? What should staff do with "suspicious" items in the patient's possession (drugs, credit cards in different names, firearms)? Can drug-dependent patients lawfully use illicit drugs in hospital? Who should supply and administer them?
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE), University of Melbourne. l.skene@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Loane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skene
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keays
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007297:Inpatients / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007882:Legislation, Hospital; D016365:Liability, Legal; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014739:Victoria