Guardianship issues
Abstract
Australia and New Zealand Journal of Developmental Disabilities 1990, Vol. 16, No. 3, 283-284. Guardianship Issues Mr. Roger West Chairman N.S.W. G U A R D I A N S H I P B O A R D Dear Roger, I am writing to bring to the Board's attention two issues relating to consent for administration of psychotropic medication to individuals with developmental disabilities. I would like to suggest changes to the G u a r d i a n s h i p Act concerning the status of psychotropic medications as a major medical treatment. The appropriate classification of a psychotropic drug as a Minor, Major or Special treatment should rest on at least the two considerations of dosage and duration of treatment. Generally speaking, low doses of psychotropic medications prescribed for short periods are a safe treatment, provided when the antipsychotic groups of drugs is used, personnel are available who can recognize and treat dystonic and extrap y r a m i d a l reactions should they occur. I believe that psychotropic treatment, used for short periods in low doses, could be relegated to the status of a minor medical treatment. This would reduce the