As far as I can see it, the Act gives the power of authorisation to the
police (inspector rank or above). There really therefore should be no need
for the ED to be involved:
Police suspect ingestion. Inspector authorises x-ray. Consent
recorded in custody notes. X-ray performed by "suitably qualified person"
(no radiological training therefore not me). I carry on with my day job.
Of course this will depend on local agreements, but where these have not
been set up, there is no default to the ED within the Act. The police are
responsible for the accumulation of evidence and it really is their
responsibility to address this where no local agreement exists.
Another police issue last night, where I found an officer of the law rifling
through the cards for patients in the WR without any authorisation. I had a
firm word in his shell like, and decided not to go down the formal complaint
route, but somehow still felt extremely dissatisfied by the whole thing. I'm
sure the response form him would have been slightly stronger if I'd walked
into his station and started rooting through paperwork on his desk.
Bruce
-----Original Message-----
From: Accident and Emergency Academic List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Goat
Sent: 09 December 2006 20:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: alleged drug ingestion
Read it.
Still don't see anything in it that I can use to fend off PCs who are
mis-using ED (maliciously or otherwise).
There is no mention of WHO should request the investigation.
There is equally no mention of who should take a sample for Class A
detection.
Is there anything in writing which I can keep in the department to avoid
becoming embroiled?
If there isn't, can w have something - please?
ED is complicated enough, without having to do a job I'm not trained (or
paid) for.
Goat
In message <[log in to unmask]>,
Dunn Matthew (South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust)
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Drugs Act 2005.
>http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/20050017.htm
>Covers the relevant part.
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