Doctors say they will refuse to be held responsible for any harm that might come to patients following a union directive issued to hospital nurses not to fill in ‘covering letters’ which are necessary for the administration of certain drugs.

Martin Balzan, general secretary of the Medical Association of Malta, said failure to administer drugs could amount to manslaughter and the MAM was taking legal advice over the directive.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has an issue with what it says was a recent increase in paperwork due to hundreds of drugs being put on a special register.

The covering letters have to be filled in by nurses and midwives to get drugs to their wards from the hospital pharmacy, and this often entails chasing doctors for their signatures.

From November 1, nurses will not be in a position to administer those drugs not obtained from the pharmacy due to the ‘covering letter’ protocol.

Not giving medicine is morally wrong

The MAM defended the protocol, saying covering letters were issued for expensive medicines and treatments often administered intravenously to seriously ill patients. It also helped to better control the use of antibiotics in line with the antibiotics policy, as well as having a role in financial control. Similar procedures existed in other hospitals.

Dr Balzan said the association was taking legal advice because the action could obstruct the provision of medicine and give grounds for claims of civil damages by patients.

Not giving medicine was morally wrong and such an omission could even lead to manslaughter, which was a criminal offence, he added.

Paul Pace, MUMN president, has denied the union will stop providing treatment to patients.