Legal aspects of prescribing

Abstract

Paramedic independent prescribing is in its infancy and there are limitations to the range of medicines that can be prescribed when compared with other professions undertaking independent prescribing. Medication and prescribing errors are common events within the NHS in England, resulting in a substantial number of litigation and fitness-to-practise proceedings against other professions in relation to prescribing and medicines management. It is foreseeable that paramedic independent prescribers could also find themselves subject to legal action. This article considers a fictitious scenario where a patient suffers harm as a result of a prescribing decision and the legal implications for the prescriber.