Drugs inevitably produce unwanted effects. If legal consequences of adverse reactions are to be avoided, consistent care is needed at every stage from drug manufacture to administration. Drugs that are licensed should be produced to the highest standards of current knowledge. Prescribes should be knowledgeable about the drugs they prescribe, having selected them objectively from other means of managing the clinical situation, should provide the patient with information which is sufficient to enable an informed decision to be made on whether to accept the drug or not, and should warn about unwanted reactions and interactions. Pharmacists should seek advice if a prescription does not conform with local laws, and they carry the same burden of responsibility as a prescriber to warn about adverse effects of drugs that are sold direct without prescription. Those administering drugs must be trained property to check the drug and its dose, and should ensure that the correct route of administration is being used and that injections avoid any vital structure.
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