Nursing and related management in the time of COVID-19
Shannett Thompson
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has recently issued guidance to athletes in which it acknowledges the difficulties that the current health crisis will cause, not just for athletes, but for the entire sporting community who are committed to protecting clean sport. They acknowledge that whilst testing is vital in the fight against doping, there is an overarching need to prioritise reducing transmission of the virus and thereby limiting its global impact. Accordingly, safety measures will be put in place to protect athletes and sample collection personnel.
WADA’s guidance for athletes seeks to clarify their obligations under the anti-doping Code during this turbulent time.
The message for athletes is clear: you can still expect to be tested despite concerns about COVID-19, and the virus is highly unlikely to amount to a valid justification for refusing to provide a sample.
WADA has confirmed that despite many sporting events and competitions being suspended or postponed, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, athletes can still expect to be tested. They do recognise however that current testing programmes will have to be adjusted and fewer anti-doping tests will be carried out in light of necessary restrictions to stem the spread of the pandemic.
The key points arising from WADA’s guidance in relation to testing are as follows:
Yes. The advice is that some testing will still be carried out. When conducting anti-doping tests, sample collection personnel have been advised to regularly wash their hands, put on new gloves upon arrival and to remain two metres away from others. It is likely that far fewer tests will be carried out, but athletes should not expect testing to stop completely.
No. Athletes are strongly encouraged to comply with testing, especially in light of the additional safety precautions outlined above. If you experience symptoms that suggest you may have COVID-19, you should follow government guidance, including self-isolating. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should inform the doping control officer of your symptoms immediately.
If you refuse to be tested, or if you are not willing to provide a sample, then the normal results management process will be followed. This will provide athletes with the opportunity to justify their actions but ultimately, refusing a test could lead to the commission of an anti-doping rule violation, which could lead to a ban from sport of up to two years.
Yes. Athletes should continue to ensure their whereabouts information is updated accurately on ADAMS.
Of course there is a risk that conducting fewer anti-doping tests may have an impact on clean sport. However, when life begins to return to normal and the frequency of testing increases, additional target tests may be carried out to try and compensate for the reduction in testing during the coming months.
The guidance makes it absolutely clear that the obligations on athletes to update their whereabouts and submit to testing remain in force. Whilst all major sporting events and competitions have been placed on hold, don’t expect testing to stop.
Julie Norris is a partner in the Regulatory Team. She specialises in advising in the health, professional services, legal and financial fields, advising professionals, businesses and regulators on regulatory compliance, investigations, adjudication, enforcement and prosecutions.
Private prosecutions provide an effective way to seek justice; and particularly in circumstances when the traditional prosecuting agencies are unable or unwilling to act. Conducted appropriately they can be a useful, efficient and cost-effective tool to secure punishment of the guilty. Conducted badly they can be an expensive mistake with far reaching consequences.
In this blog series we draw on our experience of both bringing and defending private prosecutions to help clarify some of the common myths and misunderstandings about private prosecutions. In this blog we look at whether having an ulterior motive in starting a private prosecution can lead to problems down the line.
Private prosecutions provide an effective way to seek justice; and particularly in circumstances when the traditional prosecuting agencies are unable or unwilling to act. Conducted appropriately they can be a useful, efficient and cost-effective tool to secure punishment of the guilty. Conducted badly they can be an expensive mistake with far reaching consequences.
In this blog series we draw on our experience of both bringing and defending private prosecutions to help clarify some of the common myths and misunderstandings about private prosecutions. In this blog we look at whether the private prosecutor is entitled to recover their full investigation and legal fees at the end of the case.
Every solicitor knows that an undertaking is serious stuff. Arguably it is the greatest power available to a solicitor. A promise, if broken, that will lead to immediate and serious consequences for the giver. As such it can be relied upon to the ends of the earth. The power of undertakings has meant that they sit at the heart of every property transaction, bridging the time gap between the sending of money and the receiving of title. They are also used in other areas of commercial life and as part of litigation. The “brand” of a solicitor’s undertaking is so powerful that little thought is given as to where their power comes from.
This week, the Government announced that Covid-19 vaccinations will be made compulsory for care home staff, raising strong emotions on both sides of the argument.
Gone are the days of computer gaming being viewed as a secluded activity; gaming is now a thoroughly social experience that attracts a global audience of millions and players can compete for large sums of money and celebrity. This burgeoning industry is largely in a virtual world and has developed in a blockchain, decentralised fashion. Often the UK government talks up the UK gaming industry and how keen the government is to support this sector, and there have been instances that show support, but when it comes to playing games competitively, law and regulations have not yet caught up.
The COVID-19 crisis has forced sports clubs, schools, universities and charities to rapidly change their approaches to coaching, teaching and support work. The regulations on social distancing have forced organisations to innovate; services which had previously been offered mostly or wholly in person were rapidly shifted online during “lockdown 1” and will return online at least for the duration of “lockdown 3”. If the vaccine rollout has the desired effect there will no doubt be some return to “traditional” methods, but it seems very unlikely that the changes brought about by the pandemic will be completely reversed. In this blog, Claire Parry from Kingsley Napley’s Regulatory team and Fred Allen from the Public Law team look at the challenges organisations face engaging with children online.
In this 3-part tech blog series, we’ve explored how legal and accountancy regulators are driving and responding to changes in technology and innovation in their respective professions. We’ve also considered the commercial perspective, looking at interesting developments in these sectors , particularly around the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
In this second blog in our technology and innovation series, we look at some recent developments in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal and accountancy sectors.
On 18 November 2020, the government confirmed that it is proceeding with planned changes to the Victims' Code, following a consultation that began on 5 March 2020. The changes mean that when the revised Code comes into force, it will be based on a clearly defined set of rights that set out a minimum level of service that can be expected from criminal justice agencies. It is hoped that the changes will mean victims have a greater awareness of their rights, receive the information and support when then need it and have a greater level of satisfaction with the treatment they receive in the criminal justice system.
On 19 November 2020, the High Court handed down judgment in the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care’s (“PSA”) challenge to a decision of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal (“MPT”) to suspend a doctor from practice. In her judgment, Mrs Justice Farbey emphasises the significance of lack of insight to the question of sanction.
All providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (“CQC) must assure themselves that all directors who are responsible for delivering care to service users are fit and proper – in other words, they must be able to diligently carry out their responsibility to ensure the quality and safety of care. This forms part of the providers’ duty to ensure the service is well-led, which is one of the focus points during an inspection. Not only does the CQC monitor compliance at the point of registration, but it is an on-going duty and can lead to enforcement action where it is not met.
The House of Commons Justice Committee has made a series of recommendations in its report published today which are likely to have a significant impact on the future of private prosecutions in England and Wales.
Although everyone hopes the now much enhanced critical care capacity in the UK will meet the demand from patients, there is a growing concern that the time will come during the COVID-19 pandemic when the NHS will be overwhelmed and the need for lifesaving interventions will exceed available resources.
The Charities Commission has recently warned that fraudsters are exploiting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to carry out fraud and cybercrime against charities. Unfortunately, in our experience, the likelihood of the police taking action against these individuals is low. In the current climate it is easy to understand why the use of private prosecutions is firmly on the rise. In the past, some charities have been criticised for having an overzealous approach to the conduct of their private prosecutions. In this blog, we highlight the importance of taking a few simple steps to ensure that charities who conduct private prosecutions are beyond reproach.
With BBC reports that there have been 178,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour in the last four weeks across England and Wales alone, if a solicitor receives a fixed penalty notice for a non-essential journey away from home - do they have to inform the SRA?
With the COVID-19 lockdown extended in the UK until at least early-May, primary care practitioners and consultants, who have been increasingly turning to remote consultations or telemedicine to treat their patients, will inevitably see an increase in their use to address more complex medical issues.
In our previous blog, we discussed the introduction of the Coronavirus Act and how the emergency legislation impacts healthcare professionals. Understandably however, the situation is constantly evolving and the position must be regularly reassessed. With this in mind, we discuss below some of the recent, key updates impacting the healthcare workforce.
Last week we provided you with detail on the guidance to be aware of as a manager or owner of a care/domiciliary home in light of the current pandemic. The guidance is of course changing given the nature of the outbreak, so please read on for the key updates:
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has recently issued guidance to athletes in which acknowledges the difficulties that the Covid-19 pandemic will cause, not just for athletes, but for the entire sporting community who are committed to protecting clean sport
The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented period of change and rapid adjustment in UK healthcare provision. The work of frontline nurses often goes beyond pure treatment, providing care, support and regular human contact with patients. How is the tension between social distancing and nurses’ obligations to look after patients to be resolved?
We recognise that these unique times are presenting unprecedented challenges for our clients and we are here to support you in any way we can.
Click to viewAlex Torpey covers the key things to look out for if you are relying on the Force Majeure clause.
Watch the video on LinkedInRachel Freeman, Partner in our Family Law team, addresses some issues that we are seeing arise for separated parents in the current crisis.
Read the blogAndrew Solomon speaks about the challenge for tech companies and coworking spaces during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen to the podcastAlun Milford, Partner in our Criminal Litigation team, provides an in-depth look at the legal basis behind the current lockdown.
Read the blogOn Friday 3 April, immigration partner and head of department, Nick Rollason, hosted a webinar looking at urgent issues employers are facing during the COVID-19 crisis and answered some of the key questions being raised.
Watch the webinar recordingOn Thursday 9 April, Andreas White, Partner in our Employment Law Team, delivered an overview of the scheme with a focus of the key legal issues for UK employers.
Watch the webinar recordingWill instructions have apparently risen by 30% since COVID-19 reached our shores. What effect does COVID-19 have on Will signings? James Ward and Diva Shah in our Private Client team blog.
Read the blogCharlotte Bradley, Head of our Family Law Team, reflects on how the COVID-19 crisis has affected working parents like her.
Read the blogCalls for a public inquiry are continuing to mount and are likely to prove difficult to resist. In this blog, Sophie Kemp considers the framework for such inquiries, and the key issues likely to form the core of its terms of reference.
Read the blogWe welcome views and opinions about the issues raised in this blog. Should you require specific advice in relation to personal circumstances, please use the form on the contact page.
Shannett Thompson
Shannett Thompson
Jessica Clay
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