This article, written by Sidhesh Phaldessai, provides an overview of geriatric psychopharmacology, including the epidemiology of mental health disorders in the older population, the physiological changes that occur with ageing and their impact on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and the use of psychotropic medications in older adults
When to tell the parents
Tuesday 1 October 2019, 01:00 AM
Consent and privacy of information for under-16-year-olds can pose difficult questions for pharmacy staff
If an under-16-year-old wants her dispensed medications kept secret, is the pharmacist still obliged to share details with her parent who pays the bill? Auckland pharmacy lecturer Sanya Ram looks at the legislation
Camelia is a 15-year-old who recently had a prescription for the emergency contraceptive pill dispensed at your pharmacy. Any charges in relation to C
References
- Privacy Commissioner. Health 101: An Introduction to the Health Information Privacy Code 1994. https://bit.ly/2mcxwYK
- Health and Disability Commissioner. The informed consent process and the application of the Code to children (online). www.hdc.org.nz
- Ministry of Health. Consent in child and youth health: Information for practitioners. Wellington: Ministry of Health; 1998. www.health.govt.nz
- Medical Council of New Zealand. Information, choice of treatment and informed consent. 2011. https://bit.ly/2lPNQOI
- Van Rooyen A, Water T, Rasmussen S, et al. What makes a child a ‘competent’ child? N Z Med J 2014;128(1426):88–95.
- Privacy Commissioner. Health Information Privacy Code 1994 (online). https://bit.ly/2kl3v8F