[Securing the therapy management during the leave permissions for the elderly patients]. / Sécurisation de la prise en charge médicamenteuse des patients âgés pendant les permissions de sortie.

Leave permission can be granted over a limited period of hospitalisation during which the patient can return home under the responsibility of the hospital. Despite its frequency, this practice is not evaluated in terms of maintaining the security of medication. This complex process involves several actors, processes and locations. In that case, the drug iatrogenic risk is not at all negligible, especially for the elderly. Patient comprehension of medication is not always easy and must be evaluated before leaving the hospital. Therefore, a risk analysis has been initiated to ensure the medical practice's security of our geriatric hospital. Multidisciplinary working group meetings were dedicated to analyse and overcome 21 unacceptable failure modes. The establishment of traceability nurse/patient for the medication intake, information and evaluation of drug monitoring allowed the patient's medication compliance. In the meanwhile, the role of the working group on the security of the internal drug circuit in the hospital has integrated the harmonization of practices, a unique source of information and a variety of comprehensible, readable and informative materials to propose to the patients. These preventive actions have been formulated to secure, optimize and to individualize drug management during the leave permission. In the context of optimization during transit period home/hospital, this process reorganized by the working group can be integrated in a public health approach to reduce the number of preventable readmissions.

[Euthanasia and/or medically assisted suicide: Reflection on the new responsibility of the hospital pharmacist]. / Euthanasie et/ou suicide médicalement assisté : réflexion sur la nouvelle responsabilité du pharmacien hospitalier.

CONTEXT: Concern about euthanasia and medically assisted suicide is currently growing around the world and particularly in France. Though not authorized at present in France, the role of hospital pharmacist in this issue needs to be discussed. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to gather medical and legal literature of European Union member states on these issues and particularly in France. To propose a practical thinking on the possible role of hospital pharmacist. RESULTS: Among European Union, euthanasia and/or assisted suicide have already been introduced in some member states' laws. In France, Leonetti law currently sets the legal framework for the management of end of life. To address the society's demand on these issues, French President F. Hollande made two ethics committees responsible for working on it. Both were mainly against euthanasia and assisted suicide. Though a bit forgotten in this debate, hospital pharmacist needs to be associated in the thinking, as the main "drug-keeper". Indeed, guidelines are necessary to outline and ensure a safe drug use, complying with professional ethics, if lethal doses are voluntarily prescribed. CONCLUSION: Pharmaceutical work is in constant evolution and is addressing new issues still unanswered, including assisted suicide and euthanasia. French pharmaceutical authorities should seize upon them, in order to guarantee pharmaceutical ethics. These practices, if authorized by law, should remain exceptional, and law strictly enforced. The pharmacist could be one of these "lawkeepers".