Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: Ethical Issues in the Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med 2016 Nov;68(5):589-598
Date
10/25/2016Pubmed ID
27181079DOI
10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.04.018Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84966703623 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 7 CitationsAbstract
Prescription drug monitoring programs are statewide databases available to clinicians to track prescriptions of controlled medications. These programs may provide valuable information to assess the history and use of controlled substances and contribute to clinical decisionmaking in the emergency department (ED). The widespread availability of the programs raises important ethical issues about beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for persons, justice, confidentiality, veracity, and physician autonomy. In this article, we review the ethical issues surrounding prescription drug monitoring programs and how those issues might be addressed to ensure the proper application of this tool in the ED. Clinical decisionmaking in regard to the appropriate use of opioids and other controlled substances is complex and should take into account all relevant clinical factors, including age, sex, clinical condition, medical history, medication history and potential drug-drug interactions, history of addiction or diversion, and disease state.
Author List
Marco CA, Venkat A, Baker EF, Jesus JE, Geiderman JM, ACEP Ethics CommitteeAuthor
Arthur R. Derse MD, JD Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Drug Utilization ReviewEmergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Prescription Drug Misuse
Prescription Drugs