[Drug handling in a legal perspective]

In the past few years much attention has been directed towards safety and quality in the dispensing and administration of drugs in hospitals. It has been necessary for the hospital clinics to implement procedures related to the handling of drugs. The present review outlines Danish laws and regulations on the dispensing and administration of drugs in hospitals, with special attention to specific groups of health professions. It includes recommendations on how to supplement the laws and regulations with local operating procedures.