Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

Alwood-Anderson

With doctors sometimes prescribing the wrong medication, Edith Allwood-Anderson, president of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ), is calling for 'medical reviews' of drug prescriptions ordered by local doctors.

"Medication errors by local doctors are a cause for concern," Mrs. Allwood-Anderson told The Gleaner yesterday. "The standard of prescription orders is insufficient and needs to be monitored."

Mrs. Allwood-Anderson claimed that one of the causes for the problem is the lack of appreciation of nursing expertise. "Nurses are not subservient to doctors within the medical framework. We compliment doctors for quality patient care," she said

Noel Julius, member of the Socio-Economic Welfare committee of the NAJ, said doctors sometimes order wrong prescriptions for their patients, and the only reason lives are saved is because of alert nurses.

"I received a prescription for a child that recommended six mega units (million) of a drug. When I brought it to the attention of the doctor, she defended her position and I had to insist that she review the prescription," Mr. Julius said, pointing to a particular case.

According to Mrs. Allwood-Anderson, among the responsibilities that nurses have is making an independent assessment of prescription orders, looking at the purpose of the drug, the dosage to be taken and its potential side effects.

Dr. Sheila Campbell- Forrester, chief medical officer at the Ministry of Health said she believes in a 'multi-disciplinary' team approach in which everybody's role is important, is what is needed. She admitted that prescription errors do occur but believes it they take place at a low rate. She stressed however that such an error should be avoided.

'I received a prescription for a child that recommended six mega units (million) of a drug. When I brought it to the attention of the doctor, she defended her position and I had to insist that she review the prescription.'

- Mr. Julius Member of the Socio-Economic Welfare committee of the NAJ