MPS Advises Healthcare Staff On Needlestick Injuries

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery;  HIV / AIDS;  Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 23 Jan 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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MPS warns health professionals of the importance of complying with the Human Tissue Act 2004, particularly in relation to the areas covering needlestick injuries and consent to testing patients for infectious diseases such as HIV.

The Act places a particular emphasis on obtaining consent before processing human tissue - including testing blood for HIV or Hepatitis B. The interests of the patient - dead or alive - take precedence over the healthcare professional who has sustained a needlestick injury while treating a patient. In the case of deceased patient's consent would need to be obtained from a qualifying relative.

Tom Lloyd, Medicolegal Adviser, said: "Whilst the victim of a needlestick injury may feel upset and anxious to know whether they have been exposed to infection, the Human Tissue Act places an obligation to obtain consent even when the patient has died. When deciding whether to seek consent from a relative, consideration must be given to the potential for exacerbating distress at an already difficult time, and whether this is justified by the wishes of the victim of the injury."

MPS advises healthcare staff involved in needlestick injuries the following:

- Take appropriate precautions whenever undertaking any invasive procedure, or where exposure to blood or other bodily fluids is possible.

- Report any needlestick injury to occupational health department immediately and take their advice.

- It is unlawful to test blood for infectious disease without appropriate consent, unless it is in the patient's interests to do so.

- Where the patient's consent is not available, through incapacity or death, consent can be sought from a nominated qualifying relative.

- When considering whether to approach a relative for consent, consideration must be given to the potential consequences of obtaining a positive result and what the wishes of the deceased patient might have been.

http://www.medicalprotection.org

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