GP found breaching Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights by increasing oxycodone prescription, leading to patient's death from toxicity.
Dr. Vanessa Caldwell, Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner, found a general practitioner breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights regarding an increased oxycodone prescription. The woman had been taking oxycodone for chronic pain and increased the dose due to lung cancer-related pain. The GP agreed to the increased dose, which led to the woman's death from oxycodone toxicity. Dr. Caldwell determined the GP failed to provide adequate care when increasing the patient's oxycodone dosage and the rate at which it was done, as well as the inadequacy of documentation associated with the increased dosage.
June 24, 2024
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