The Malta Medical Association has filed a judicial protest holding the nurses' union (MUMN) responsible for any consequences to patients' health as a result of a directive which comes into force on November 1.

In the protest the association said the union had directed midwives and nurses to stop following protocol which had existed for years on the administration of medicine. The nurses have been told not to chase covering letters needed to acquire medicines for their wards from the hospital pharmacy.

The MAM said this protocol was there to ensure that checks and balances were in place, ensure the efficient use of medicines and allow for an audit trail.

The union's directive meant that medicines may not be administered to patients, the doctors union said.

Such a directive was abusive, irresponsible and illegal given that nurses and midwives were legally and morally bound to observe the protocol in order to ensure patients' safety. Moreover, the directive was issued when when was no industrial dispute registered according to law.

The association declared it would not be held responsible for any health risks for patients and called on the MUMN to withdraw the directive.

The judicial protest was filed against MUMN president Paul Pace and the union's secretary Colin Galea as well as chief medical officer Dennis Vella Baldacchino.