Ethicolegal Issues in Pharmacotherapy for Neurorehabilitation

Issue title: Neuropharmacology

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Auerbach, Vivian | Jann, Brigitta

Affiliations: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia

Abstract: Medication uses in neurorehabilitation include treatment of acute complications, chronic comorbidities, and cognitive and behavioral impairments; pain management; and direct treatment of other neurological sequelae. The clinical use of pharmacologic agents with neurorehabilitation patients is complicated by the paucity of controlled studies on the efficacy and side effects of medications with this population, as well as the changing legal standards for practitioner accountability and patient rights. The application of legal standards for psychiatric settings and psychopharmacologic treatments to the rehabilitation setting may necessitate greater involvement of patients and guardians in medication decision making and more vigilant assessment of each patients mental competence.

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-1991-1110

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 58-63, 1991