Professionals responsible for prescription accuracy
Suggestions that a computer generated prescription may have contributed to the death of a Nelson woman are strongly
refuted by the leading practice management system software distributor in New Zealand.
Medtech Global says computer software suppliers are responsible for providing doctors a prescription writing tool that
is as accurate and efficient as possible. But any doctor who signs a prescription and the pharmacist who dispenses the
medication on that prescription must be responsible for making sure the patient receives the correct medication and
dosage.
Vino Ramayah, Executive Chairman of Medtech Global, says computers cannot replace human judgment. Both the Medical
Association and Medsafe have reiterated it is crucial that doctors and pharmacists should check prescription
information. Medsafe recently said pharmacists have ‘a professional and ethical responsibility to accurately identify
the medicine prescribed’.
MedTech Global is focused on patient safety, Mr Ramayah says, even more so as New Zealand moves to an era where patients
will be able to access their own medical records online and work interactively with their health professionals.
“Safety is core to our software development and as integral as privacy to the use of computer software in managing
people’s health,” Mr Ramayah says. “But at the end of the day patient safety comes back to human judgment and
responsibility.”
ends