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NSW government circular
CONFEDERATION OF AUSTRALIAN CRITICAL CARE NURSES JOURNAL
EDITORIAL NOTE
Although the following circular is from the Secretary of the N.S.W: Department of Health, it has implications for changes in nursing practice and is published for members information.
FROM:
N.S.W: Government Department of Health Letter to N.S.W: Nurses Association
REFERENCE NUMBER:
C3794
DATE:
14/12/88
Miss Pat Staunton, General Secretary of N.S.W: Nurses has asked the C.N.S.A. to bring the following circular to the attention of its members.
Send proposed amendments or suggestions to: N.S.W Nurses Association ao Box 231 DARLINGHURST NSW 2010 MOOOR TRAFFIC ACT
Section 4F of the New South Wales Motor Traffic Act requires a medical practitioner to take blood samples from persons who are involved in motor vehicle accidents. The Act further prescribes that persons who are under the supervision of a medical practitioner can also take blood samples. In a recent prosecution, a defence was raised that because the sample was not taken by a person under the direct supervision of a medical practitioner, there was no compliance with S4F and, in order to remove any doubt about whether the supervising medical practitioner needs to be physically present, consideration is being given to amending the legislation. The legislation would be amended to allow a registered nurse to take a blood sample with or without the consent of the patient, on the direction (including by telephone) of a medical practitioner. Before this matter proceeds any further, however, it would be appreciated if your Association would indicate, as soon as possible, if it would have any ob~ection to the Motor Traffic Act being amended as suggested above.
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EDITORIAL NOTE
Although the following circular is from the Secretary of the N.S.W: Department of Health, it has implications for changes in nursing practice and is published for members information.
FROM:
N.S.W: Government Department of Health Letter to N.S.W: Nurses Association
REFERENCE NUMBER:
C3794
DATE:
14/12/88
Miss Pat Staunton, General Secretary of N.S.W: Nurses has asked the C.N.S.A. to bring the following circular to the attention of its members.
Send proposed amendments or suggestions to: N.S.W Nurses Association ao Box 231 DARLINGHURST NSW 2010 MOOOR TRAFFIC ACT
Section 4F of the New South Wales Motor Traffic Act requires a medical practitioner to take blood samples from persons who are involved in motor vehicle accidents. The Act further prescribes that persons who are under the supervision of a medical practitioner can also take blood samples. In a recent prosecution, a defence was raised that because the sample was not taken by a person under the direct supervision of a medical practitioner, there was no compliance with S4F and, in order to remove any doubt about whether the supervising medical practitioner needs to be physically present, consideration is being given to amending the legislation. The legislation would be amended to allow a registered nurse to take a blood sample with or without the consent of the patient, on the direction (including by telephone) of a medical practitioner. Before this matter proceeds any further, however, it would be appreciated if your Association would indicate, as soon as possible, if it would have any ob~ection to the Motor Traffic Act being amended as suggested above.
18