Menu
28/07/2011
Doctors Get Help On Vulnerable Adults
Doctors have an obligation to take action if they believe vulnerable adults are being abused or neglected, says new British Medical Association (BMA) guidance issued today.
The Department of Health in England commissioned the BMA to produce ‘Safeguarding vulnerable adults - a toolkit for general practitioners’ because of a lack of clarity in this increasingly complex area.
While the guidance is principally aimed at GPs, any professional working in health care settings with vulnerable adults will find it useful.
The guidance highlights the obligation doctors have to protect vulnerable adults and that legislation is in place to protect doctors who wish to speak out. This includes identifying abusers, identifying systemic healthcare failures and reporting poor performance by health professionals.
The toolkit also stresses that safeguarding vulnerable adults is not the same as child protection.
The term vulnerable adults covers an extremely wide range of individuals, some of whom may be incapable of looking after any aspect of their lives and others who may be experiencing short periods of illness or disability with an associated reduction in their ability to make decisions.
It is essential, according to the BMA guidance, that doctors support the independence and the quality of life of vulnerable adults. Doctors should also involve this group of individuals in decisions about their treatment and care as far as possible.
The guidance provides a number of scenarios that illustrate these points, including a patient recovering from a stroke who wants to go for walks outside the nursing home and the case of an elderly lady who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s but wants to continue to live on her own.
Chairman of the BMA's Medical Ethics Committee (MEC), Dr Tony Calland, said: "The way doctors deal with these possible situations demonstrates how complex caring for vulnerable adults can be. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution and each case needs to be judged individually. This toolkit will help to guide and support doctors in their decision-making.
"Our guidance also helps doctors identify which adults have the capacity to protect and promote their own interests, and which adults may need decisions made on their behalf."
(BMcN)
The Department of Health in England commissioned the BMA to produce ‘Safeguarding vulnerable adults - a toolkit for general practitioners’ because of a lack of clarity in this increasingly complex area.
While the guidance is principally aimed at GPs, any professional working in health care settings with vulnerable adults will find it useful.
The guidance highlights the obligation doctors have to protect vulnerable adults and that legislation is in place to protect doctors who wish to speak out. This includes identifying abusers, identifying systemic healthcare failures and reporting poor performance by health professionals.
The toolkit also stresses that safeguarding vulnerable adults is not the same as child protection.
The term vulnerable adults covers an extremely wide range of individuals, some of whom may be incapable of looking after any aspect of their lives and others who may be experiencing short periods of illness or disability with an associated reduction in their ability to make decisions.
It is essential, according to the BMA guidance, that doctors support the independence and the quality of life of vulnerable adults. Doctors should also involve this group of individuals in decisions about their treatment and care as far as possible.
The guidance provides a number of scenarios that illustrate these points, including a patient recovering from a stroke who wants to go for walks outside the nursing home and the case of an elderly lady who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s but wants to continue to live on her own.
Chairman of the BMA's Medical Ethics Committee (MEC), Dr Tony Calland, said: "The way doctors deal with these possible situations demonstrates how complex caring for vulnerable adults can be. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution and each case needs to be judged individually. This toolkit will help to guide and support doctors in their decision-making.
"Our guidance also helps doctors identify which adults have the capacity to protect and promote their own interests, and which adults may need decisions made on their behalf."
(BMcN)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 April 2006
Guidance on crime protection for vulnerable adults published
The Home Office has published guidance on how vulnerable adults and those with learning difficulties can protect themselves from crime. The 'Keep Safe' booklet contains advice on how to keep safe when at home and outside alone, including tips on using public transport and cash machines.
Guidance on crime protection for vulnerable adults published
The Home Office has published guidance on how vulnerable adults and those with learning difficulties can protect themselves from crime. The 'Keep Safe' booklet contains advice on how to keep safe when at home and outside alone, including tips on using public transport and cash machines.
23 June 2011
Child Abuse Loophole To Be Closed
A legal loophole that could allow those who physically abuse children or vulnerable adults to escape justice is to be closed, the Government announced. There is already an offence (Section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004) which makes it a criminal offence to cause or allow the death of a child or vulnerable adult.
Child Abuse Loophole To Be Closed
A legal loophole that could allow those who physically abuse children or vulnerable adults to escape justice is to be closed, the Government announced. There is already an offence (Section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004) which makes it a criminal offence to cause or allow the death of a child or vulnerable adult.
22 March 2004
Survey reveals doctors as most trusted professionals
Doctors are the most trusted of the UK's professionals with a 92% rating, but four in five members of the public consider the journalists and politicians to be somewhat less than sincere, according an annual survey by the pollster Mori. The least trusted groups are journalists (20%), politicians (22%), and government ministers (23%).
Survey reveals doctors as most trusted professionals
Doctors are the most trusted of the UK's professionals with a 92% rating, but four in five members of the public consider the journalists and politicians to be somewhat less than sincere, according an annual survey by the pollster Mori. The least trusted groups are journalists (20%), politicians (22%), and government ministers (23%).
11 December 2003
Vulnerable adults to be better protected from abusers
People living in care homes and those who receive personal care in their own homes are set to have greater protection from known abusers following the adoption of a new scheme that bans them from working with vulnerable adults again.
Vulnerable adults to be better protected from abusers
People living in care homes and those who receive personal care in their own homes are set to have greater protection from known abusers following the adoption of a new scheme that bans them from working with vulnerable adults again.
30 June 2005
Public ‘concerned’ about central health records computer
Members of the public are “seriously concerned” about government plans to hold health records on a central computer, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned.
Public ‘concerned’ about central health records computer
Members of the public are “seriously concerned” about government plans to hold health records on a central computer, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:There will be a mixture of bright intervals and a few showers. Best of the sunny spells will be near the North Coast. Feeling on the cool side. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
