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Nurses told about importance of medico legal issues

PUDUCHERRY: From medico legal issues in obstetrics and gynaecology to proper maintenance of records and induction of labour, the duties of nurses were clearly outlined at the Continuing Nursing Education (C.N.E) programme held on Sunday.

Delivering a lecture on Medico Legal aspects regarding maternity and Induction of Labour, specialist at Government Maternity Hospital C. Sathianarayanan elaborated the role of nurses in assisting doctors during examination of patients, surgery and also highlighted the Acts governing medico legal cases.

“While assisting examination by doctors at Out-Patient Department, the nurse should be a witness to willingness or non-cooperation of the patient, keep registry of materials sent and reports received, circulars, medical stocks and also maintain a register and police information book,” he said.

For surgery, the nurse should get the operation theatre list for the next day, clarify with surgeons on special or rare cases, check the required instruments, count the instruments and needles, he added.

“Case records are of very high medico legal value. It is the foremost important thing. The doctor should countersign the record with date and time. The details of administering injections should be mentioned with site and side,” Dr. Sathianarayanan said.

Referring to the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994, he said it prevented from demonstrating, telling, indicating and gesturing the sex of the foetus.

He went on to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971 and listed out the cases were the procedure can be carried out such as foetal anomalies, pregnancy cause by rape or which could lead to serious consequence to the mental health of the pregnant mother.

“During delivery, never guarantee a normal delivery and always include a word of caution of attempt. Most of the cases go to the court due to lack of proper communication,” he told the group of nurses and nursing students.

A little transparency, proper communication would reduce the litigations, he added.

The Project Director of the CNE programme, H. Ranganath, spoke on the occasion.

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