Question NW19 to the Minister of Health
01 August 2024 - NW19
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1) Whether doctors who hold the status of a medical officer and not that of a medical specialist or intensivist are allowed to administer treatment to a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether (a) medical officers and (b) intensivists are allowed to certify a patient dead within the ICU; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what surgeons are allowed to administer and/or recommend treatment to patients in ICU; (4) whether a nurse and/or doctor within the ICU is allowed to switch off the life support systems to a patient without seeking the permission of the patient’s family and/or making the family aware of the proposed decision; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) what actions may be taken by the patient’s family through the medical process if due process to switch off a patient’s life support system without seeking the permission of the patient’s family and/or making the family aware of the proposed decision has not been followed?
Reply:
- Doctors who hold the status of a medical officer and not that of a medical specialist or intensivist are allowed to administer treatment to a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) provided that they have received appropriate basic training for managing critically ill patients or are under the supervision of a medical specialist or intensivist.
- Medical officers and intensivists are allowed to certify a patient dead within the ICU.
- All surgeons are allowed to administer and/or recommend treatment to patients in ICU.
- No nurse and/or doctor within the ICU is allowed to switch off the life support systems without seeking the permission of the patient’s family and/or making the family aware of the proposed decision. If a need arises, families are notified and counselled and should they agree, they are given a consent form to sign, authorising the switching off of the life support.
- In an instance where due process to switch off a patient’s life support system was not followed, the family should engage the hospital authorities and submit a complaint with the senior hospital management.
END.