COVID report reveals standards of conduct do not reflect current workplace realities

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MEDICOLEGAL

COVID report reveals standards of conduct do not reflect current workplace realities

29 July 2020

Gaeline Phipps

Wednesday 29 July 2020, 12:55 AM

Nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in Waitākere Hospital were put at risk because they had to leave the room every time they needed to talk to the doctor or whānau

Wellington barrister Gaeline Phipps asks whether it is reasonable for doctors and nurses to have to advocate for appropriate care for patients in today’s stretched working environment

Key points, Codes of conduct require doctors and nurses to advocate for appropriate care for their patients. Current Medical Council guidelines support advocat, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

1. Health and Disability Commissioner. Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights. https://bit.ly/2Wee8tr
2. Shepherd M, Andrew P, Kirkwood G, et al. Incident Review Report: COVID-19 Staff Infections Waitakere Hospital April 2020. May 2020. https://bit.ly/2WdfxQT
3. Medical Council of New Zealand. Responsibilities of doctors in management and governance. March 2011. https://bit.ly/38OQTv7
4. Nursing Council of New Zealand. Code of Conduct for nurses. June 2012. https://bit.ly/3iZca9Z
5. Medical Council of New Zealand. Safe practice in an environment of resource limitation. September 2018. https://bit.ly/2OmiH0g

How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM