Hospitals face legal dilemma if they test incapacitated patients after needle accidents

Anaesthetists are calling for greater clarity on the legal implications of testing incapacitated patients for blood-borne viruses (BBV), after a survey found that this is often done following staff needlestick injuries, in possible breach of legislation. An anonymous survey of 99 intensive care units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland showed that 62 had recorded an incident where a member of staff had suffered a needlestick injury while caring for an incapacitated patient in the last 12 months.

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