Final answer:
Hospitals must have written policies that ensure safe self-administration of medications, alongside maintaining patient autonomy and beneficence. They also need to consider the appropriateness of direct supervision through therapies like DOT and navigate issues regarding liability, consent, and competence in medication administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
If self-administration of medications is allowed, the hospital is required to have written processes that address training, supervision, and documentation to guide the safe and accurate self-administration of medications or the administration of medications by a family member. This is to ensure that patients and family members involved in self-administering of medication can do so safely and effectively, upholding the principle of autonomy while also ensuring the principle of beneficence. Hospitals may also need to consider if directly observed therapy (DOT) is suitable for their patients, as is the case with TB treatment.
Moreover, the hospital must have mechanisms in place to protect patients, such as informed consent procedures, which respect the patient's autonomy and right to make informed decisions regarding their care. Additionally, the concept of advanced directives, including living wills and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders, are examples of how patients may exercise their right to autonomy in healthcare.
The complexities of medication management in hospital settings also touch upon issues such as the liability of healthcare providers and institutions, the roles of manufacturers and government in ensuring the safety of medical procedures and equipment, and the importance of establishing that a patient or family member is competent at medication administration.