Role of JCAH standards in negligence suits

Court cases in which the Standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals have been introduced into evidence are reviewed to examine the various legal roles of the Standards and to consider some implications of this for the hospital and for the hospital pharmacist. Following a review of the Darling case, the role of the Standards in establishing a legal duty is examined with emphasis on a case involving medication handling where it was held that a hospital may be liable for damages resulting from failure to comply with JCAH Standards. The Standards have also been used to assist in creating a national standard of due care by abrogating the locality or community rule. Miscellaneous uses of the Standards are also discussed. The product institutional pharmacist will be thoroughly familiar with JCAH Standards applicable to activities related to medication handling and take steps to assure that every effort is made to comply with these requirements.