Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoggite  Nenah,
Mistakes on prescriptions are an everyday occurance for most community Phcists, unfortunately.What's worse is that the Law tends to be harsher for Phcists who haven't picked up on an error, than on the doctor who made the mistake in the first place:
"The General Medical Council had traditionally been less stern on doctors who had erroneously prescribed than the Royal Pharmaceutical Society had on pharmacists who erroneously dispensed or failed to question the prescription, with the result that "pharmacists are regularly disciplined in cases where the original error lies with the doctor, who escapes any form of disciplinary sanction." said Lord fraser of Carmylie, chairing a Statutory Committe hearing once.
Here's how I deal with scripts that worry me:
1. Whatever you do, DO NOT TELL THE PATIENT THAT THE DOCTOR HAS MADE A MISTAKE. It doesn't serve any purpose, it certainly won't help your relationship with surgery staff, or with the patient. Say something like "I just need to check" or "just to be on the safe side" etc...
2. When you do decide to contact a prescriber about a Rx, say something like "could you just confirm this dose?", rather than "you've got the dose wrong!"; Give them a way out without loosing face...
3. Make a record of whatever intervention you've made, and any outcome;
4. NEVER EVER try to cover up any mistakes you might have made, it just makes matters worse;
I know I've said it before, but... it's always better to ask once too often than once too few, so take those extra 2 minutes to check in the BNF etc... or you might live to regret it!!! |
I agree with all of this, but have my doubts about number 4. I know someone who ended up at the statt comm. After their interview with the society inspector they said "I have been totally open and honest with you, yet you've treated me like dirt. I would have been better off lying about this, and trying to cover it up". The reply from the lovely inspector was "You're right".
I know you have to stick to number 1, but don't you find that annoyying? We often take all the verbal abuse, do all the leg work, help the person (even save them from harm) and we have to lie to the customer so they still have this lilley white image of their GP.