Hi Gordon,
I think that it would be fair, despite it being a military situation, to ask
for the rationale behind the administration. Indeed as a health
practitioner you obviously have a responsibility to your patients.
All drugs have potential risks, certain anti-malarial medication in
particular, and therefore there should be relevant evidence for their
administration. If there is not evidence to support their administration
then is the risk necessary?
If I put myself in your situation, what would I do? Well firstly I would
gather the relevant the evidence and then question the administration with
my OC. If he/she were insistent on the administration I would ask for their
rationale behind it "to support my own personal learning". If I was still
not happy then although you may be obliged to administer it, I would put
that fact in writing.
I hope that this helps.
Best wishes,
Stuart.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gordon Main" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 7:48 PM
Subject: A QUESTION OF INFORMED CONSENT?
> Well i have posted once already and now am a semi'ish novice.
>
> This new call for help is with regards to the thorny issue of malaria
> prophalxis. At present i have to prepare some employees for business
> abroad. The "company's" health team advises that all employees are to be
> given malaria prophalxis for this area, the WHO and malaria reference
> library say not.
>
> What is a poor nurse to do? Do we tell the employees the party line and
> adminster the malaria tabs? Or do we tell them both lines and let them
make
> the informed choice? The company is very big with even bigger teeth
> (ouch). To add to the issue is the tablets themselves must be stored
below
> 30 degrees and they work in 40 degrees with no facility to keep the
> medication cool!
>
> I realise that for a new "boy" i am over using this facilty, sorry about
> that, but it is nice to hear the advise of other OH nurses and advisors
>
> Many thanx again
>
> Gordon
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