Accountability and drug administration in community care.
Medicines are a key therapeutic intervention in community care but their adverse effects can give rise to concern for patient safety. This article considers the legal regulation of medicines with emphasis on the right to administer medicines and the standard of administration. It further considers the consequences for primary care staff of the inappropriate use of widespread practices such as tablet crushing and covert administration of medicine.
Griffith
Richard
R
Centre for Philosophy, Law and Healthcare, University of Wales, Swansea. richard.griffith@swan.ac.uk
Davies
Ruth
R
D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017751:Safety Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D006113:United Kingdom