The practical, ethical and legal reasons why patients should not be transferred between NHS trusts for phage therapy

TY - JOUR

T1 - The practical, ethical and legal reasons why patients should not be transferred between NHS trusts for phage therapy

AU - Jones, Joshua D.

AU - Ferguson, Pamela R.

AU - Suleman, Mehrunisha

N1 - Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the University of Edinburgh//Medical Research Council (grant number MC_PC_18046). Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - Bacteriophages (phages) are naturally occurring viruses of bacteria that have a long history of use as antimicrobials, known as phage therapy. The antibiotic resistance crisis has driven renewed interest in phage therapy, which has been used on an unlicensed compassionate basis in various Western contexts. The option to use unlicensed medicines exists to allow clinicians to respond to genuine clinical needs arising in their own patients. However, in the UK some clinicians may, in the absence of suitable patients of their own, seek to transfer patients from other NHS trusts into their own Trust. This article sets out why patient transfer is not necessary and the practical, ethical and legal reasons why patients should not be transferred between NHS Trusts for phage therapy. Phage preparations should always be transported to the patient and the patient treated in the Trust in which they would have received care in the absence of phage. We enclose suggested best practice guidelines for adoption across the UK that will protect patient safety and safeguard clinicians and Trusts from potential litigation.

AB - Bacteriophages (phages) are naturally occurring viruses of bacteria that have a long history of use as antimicrobials, known as phage therapy. The antibiotic resistance crisis has driven renewed interest in phage therapy, which has been used on an unlicensed compassionate basis in various Western contexts. The option to use unlicensed medicines exists to allow clinicians to respond to genuine clinical needs arising in their own patients. However, in the UK some clinicians may, in the absence of suitable patients of their own, seek to transfer patients from other NHS trusts into their own Trust. This article sets out why patient transfer is not necessary and the practical, ethical and legal reasons why patients should not be transferred between NHS Trusts for phage therapy. Phage preparations should always be transported to the patient and the patient treated in the Trust in which they would have received care in the absence of phage. We enclose suggested best practice guidelines for adoption across the UK that will protect patient safety and safeguard clinicians and Trusts from potential litigation.

KW - Safe practice

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85135830477

U2 - 10.1177/25160435221120300

DO - 10.1177/25160435221120300

M3 - Article

C2 - 36483177

AN - SCOPUS:85135830477

SN - 2516-0435

VL - 27

SP - 263

EP - 267

JO - Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management

JF - Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management

IS - 6

ER -