Failure to Obtain Informed Consent for Psychotropic Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain informed consent from two residents prior to administering psychotropic medications. For one resident with dementia and anxiety, the clinical record showed that Quetiapine Fumarate was started without any documentation that the resident received education about the risks and benefits of the medication before initiation. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that there was no evidence of informed consent being obtained prior to starting the medication. For another resident with dementia and behavioral disturbances, orders were in place for Depakote, Risperdal, and Seroquel. The Medication Administration Record indicated that these medications were administered, but the informed consent forms were incomplete. The forms had the physician's signature but did not specify from whom consent was obtained or the date. The registered nurse could not recall why the forms were incomplete and acknowledged that consent may not have been obtained or documented at the time of readmission. Interviews with the DON confirmed that, due to the lack of completed informed consent forms, the resident was not given the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding the prescribed psychotropic medications. Review of facility policy indicated that residents have the right to provide informed consent before treatment with psychotherapeutic drugs, which was not followed in these cases.