Summary
Ms C complained that the practice provided unreasonable treatment to her late mother (Mrs A). A GP from the practice attended Mrs A at home and prescribed an antibiotic. Mrs A was also on Warafin (a drug used to prevent blood clots) and other medication. She later became unwell and was admitted to hospital with bleeding from a peptic (stomach) ulcer and considered at risk of internal bleeding. Mrs A died a few weeks later. Mrs C complained that the prescription of the antibiotic was unreasonable and that Mrs A should have been advised to have her INR (a blood test which allows monitoring of Warafin levels) checked after she was started on the antibiotic.
We took independent advice from a GP. We found that the practice reasonably prescribed the antibiotic. However, the practice should have advised Mrs A that she should have her INR checked four to seven days after starting the antibiotic. Therefore, we upheld Ms C's complaint.
Recommendations
What we said should change to put things right in future: This complaint should be discussed with the GP involved at their annual appraisal.
Related reading
View Decision Report 201801464 as a PDF (12.13 KB) Updated: December 2, 2018