34Administration of narcotic substances (S8) in medical institutions

34 Administration of narcotic substances (S8) in medical institutions

(1)  Subject to subregulation (2) and regulation 126 , a medical practitioner, dentist, authorised health professional or authorised nurse practitioner must not give instructions for a narcotic substance to be administered to a patient in a medical institution without completing and signing, in his or her own handwriting or in a manner approved by the Secretary, an authorisation to do so.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.

(2)  Nothing in subregulation (1) prohibits a medical practitioner, dentist, authorised health professional or authorised nurse practitioner from –

(a) giving verbal instructions for a narcotic substance to be administered to a patient in a medical institution in an emergency if the medical practitioner, dentist, authorised health professional or authorised nurse practitioner subsequently complies with subregulation (3) ; or

(b) including, in an authorisation under subregulation (1) , a printed label identifying the patient if that label is initialled by the medical practitioner, dentist, authorised health professional or authorised nurse practitioner.

(3)  A medical practitioner, dentist, authorised health professional or authorised nurse practitioner who verbally authorises the emergency administration of a narcotic substance to a patient under subregulation (2)(a) must, within 24 hours after giving those instructions, sign an entry in the patient's medical history clearly indicating that the medical practitioner, dentist, authorised health professional or authorised nurse practitioner authorised the administration of that substance.

(4)  If of the opinion that it is necessary for a patient's wellbeing, a registered nurse or midwife may continue to administer a narcotic substance to that patient in accordance with a verbal authorisation under subregulation (3) even though the medical practitioner, dentist, authorised health professional or authorised nurse practitioner has not signed an entry in accordance with that subregulation.

(5)  A person must not administer a narcotic substance to a patient in a medical institution except –