Care Homes Should Stop Putting Drugs in OAP's Food | Prescription Drugs

Care Homes Should Stop Putting Drugs in OAP's Food

A Campaigner has hit out at a recommendation that covert medication for care home residents will be allowed to continue.
Hunter Watson, of Aberdeen's Burnieboozle Place, has campaigned for a clampdown on how medicines are given to care home residents who may not have the capacity to consent. He initially spoke out following the death of Portlethen woman Irene Duncan in a care home in 2002.
If this kind of treatment was undertaken with animals the RSPCA would be up in arms...Canna Zine

The 71-year-old retired maths professor also saw his mother Helen, who died in a care home in 1997, administered medication without her approval.

He has been waiting for Scottish Government guidance on the use of covert drugs in care homes to be published as part of a wider document on running care homes.

It should have been published two years ago, but has been delayed for extra consultation with care home professionals.

Mr Watson, pictured, has argued that putting drugs into the food of residents is against their human rights, damages their health and could kill them.

However, the guidance put before the Scottish Parliament recommends that covert drugs should be allowed for residents who cannot make decision or who have psychotic problems.

It said that a doctor should agree to their use before hand as a safeguard. But it said that covert medication is necessary in some circumstances.

Mr Watson has vowed to fight on. He said: "I am very disappointed with this recommendation.

"It really is a against human rights and allows the potential systematic misuse of drugs continue.

"I shall continue to press to get these recommendations changed."

He is due to appear before the petitions committee again in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the campaign further on January 15.

http://www.thisisaberdeen.co.uk

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