Medicine and the Law Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Medicines Act 1968

A
  • Thalidomide was prescribed in 1950s as sedative and tranquilizer
    In 1961
  • Congenital deformities associated with use of this drug during pregnancy was reported e.g congenital malformation of limbs
  • Prescribed for relieving morning sickness symptom pregnancy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What tragedy led to stricter regulations around the supply and prescription of drugs?

A

The thalidomide tragedy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What act was created after the thalidomide tragedy?

A

Medicines Act 1968

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Into what three categories does the medicine act 1968 group drugs?

A
  • Prescription only medicines (POM)
  • Pharmacy medicines (P)
  • General sales list medicines (GSL)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are prescription only medicines?

A

Prescription only medicines cannot be without a prescription from an appropriate prescriber who has legal authority to do so - this includes independent prescribers
- E.g optom, nurse, pharmacist, doctor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Can all prescribers prescribe controlled drugs?

A
  • No, controlled drugs such as morphine, pethidine and methadone are regulated more strictly and only prescribed by doctors.
  • Stricter legal controls apply to these medicines = cant be used by optoms
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are pharmacy medicines?

A

Pharmacy Medicines can only be sold from pharmacies and a pharmacist must make or supervise the sale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What may pharmacists ask

A

Pharmacists may ask patients is they have any medical conditions or take any other medicines, to check that it’s safe to take the medicine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why is it good practice to have a different prescriber and dispenser of the same drug/prescription?

A

Having the supply of the drug overseen essentially by two people now instead of one reduces the likelihood of error - it is for this reason pharmacists often enquire about the patient’s health conditions before dispensing any drug.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are general sales list medicines?

A

General Sales List (GSL) medicines can be sold by a wide range of shops, such as newsagents and supermarkets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How may a general sales list medicine differ to that sold in a pharmacy?

A
  • Often, only a small pack size or low strength of the medicine may be sold e.g:
    The largest pack size of paracetamol that shops can sell is 16 tablets but pharmacies can sell packs of 32 tablets
  • The highest strength of ibuprofen tablets that shops can sell is 200mg but pharmacies can sell tablets at 400mg strength
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What was the medicines act 1968 surpassed by?

A
  • The Human Medicines Regulations came into force on 14th August 2012
  • The regulations were the result of the initiative by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to consolidate and review UK medicines legislation
  • They replace much of the Medicines Act 1968 and around 200 statutory instruments in the process
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How does the medicines act 1968 affect optometrists?

A

Provided it is in the course of their professional practice, registered optometrists may sell or supply the following medicinal products to a patient:
-All medicinal products on the General Sale List (GSL)
- All P medicines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is now defined within Human Medicines Regulations

A

Exemptions from the general rules laid down in the Medicines Act for optometrists

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which Prescription only medicines (POMs) may optometrists sell or supply?

A
  • Provided it is in the course of their professional practice and in an emergency, registered optometrists may sell or supply the following POMs
  • 0.5% chloramphenicol eyedrops or 1% eye ointment
  • Cyclopentolate hydrochloride
  • Fusidic Acid
  • Tropicamide
  • Independent prescribers have an extended list.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What else can optima do

A

Provided it is in the course of their professional practice and in an emergency, registered optometrists may sell or supply the following POMs

17
Q

What’s the difference between a signed order and a prescription?

A

A prescription is for an individual. A signed order is ‘for use in the practice’ or by a certain professional.

18
Q

What must a signed order for prescription only medicines include?

A

-Optometrist’s name and address
-Date
-Name and address of the patient (if applicable)
-Name of the drug
-Quantity, pharmaceutical form and strength of the -POM (e.g. 0.5% eye drops 10ml)
-Labelling directions (where applicable)
-Original signature of the optometrist

19
Q

What conditions must a signed order satisfy?

A
  • The signed order must be in indelible ink; this includes typewritten and computer-generated orders.
  • College of Optometrists’ guidance recommends that the optometrist’s GOC number should also be included
20
Q
A
  • Tetracaine hydrochloride 0.5% (Amethocaine)
  • Lidocaine hydrochloride 4% (Lignocaine)
  • Oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% - (Benoxinate)
    -Proxymetacaine hydrochloride 0.5%
    Basically the corneal anaesthetics
21
Q

True or false- the law allows for local arrangements for non-prescribing professionals to supply or administer specific drugs
Study These Flashcards

A

The law also allows local arrangements to be developed for professionals without prescribing rights to supply or administer medicines to certain types of patients, in certain circumstances.

22
Q

What is patient specific direction

A

Instruction given by independent prescriber to another professional to administer medicine to specific rx

23
Q

What is patient group direction

A

Written instruction for supply and administration of medicines for certain groups by healthcare professional – instruction must be signed and agreed by a senior dr and pharmacist and include detail info about medicine

24
Q

What is the Crown Review 1999

A
  • Department of Health. (1999) Review of the prescribing, supply and administration of medicines
  • Recommended that certain groups of healthcare professionals should be allowed to prescribe:
    Independent prescribing
    Supplementary prescribing
25
Q

What is Supplementary Prescribing

A

3-way partnership between a medical practitioner (independent prescriber) who establishes the diagnosis and initiates treatment, a (supplementary prescriber) who monitors the patient and prescribes further supplies of medication and the patient who agrees to the supplementary prescribing arrangement

26
Q

Format of a prescription for a medicine should be

A

-Written legibly in ink or computer generated and should contain the following information:
- Date
- Name and address of patient
- Patents age and DOB (legal requirement in under 12’s)
- Name of drug, dose and number of days of treatment required
- Prescribers signature

27
Q

Latin abbreviations for ax’s

A
  • ac = ante cibum (before food)
  • pc = post cibum (after food)
  • bd = bis die (twice daily)
  • tds = ter die sumendum (three times daily)
  • qds = quater die sumendum (four times daily)
  • od omni die (every day)
  • om omnni mane (every morning)
  • on omni nocte (every night)
  • prn pro re nata (when required)
28
Q

What must happen before a medicine can be used in the UK

A

Must first be granted a licence

29
Q

What does licensing of medicine include

A
  • A licence indicates all the proper checks have been carried out and the benefits of a medicine are believed to outweigh the risks.
  • The licence is also known as a marketing authorisation
30
Q

In the UK how can licences can be granted

A

-The MHRA which can grant licences for medicines only in the UK
-The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) which can grant licences for medicines in the European Union (EU)

31
Q

What information does the licensing of medicine include

A

-What health condition the medicine should be used to treat
-The dose, form and who can use the medicine e.g. age restrictions
-How long treatment with the medicine should last
-Warnings about known safety issues, such as side effects and interactions with other medicines