A man who is trying to stop care homes from hiding drugs in residents' food and drink is taking his campaign to the Scottish Parliament.
A man campaigning against care homes hiding drugs in the food and drink of residents is raising the issue with the Scottish Parliament.
Hunter Watson, who is from Aberdeen, believes the practice of so-called "covert medication" contravenes patients' human rights.
Aberdonian Hunter Watson believes the practice of so-called "covert medication" contravenes patients' human rights.
He began raising questions after his mother was sedated without her consent at a nursing home in the city.
He began raising questions after his mother was sedated without her consent at a nursing home in the city.
Mr Watson will be asking the public petitions committee to clarify the law.
Mr Watson will be asking the public petitions committee to clarify the law.
Guidance from the Mental Welfare Commission states drugs should only ever be hidden in food or drink when it is in the best interests of a patient who may be confused or aggressive - not for the convenience of staff.
Guidance from the Mental Welfare Commission states drugs should only ever be hidden in food or drink when it is in the best interests of a patient who may be confused or aggressive - not for the convenience of staff.
However, surveys have suggested that 70% of care homes carry out the practice.
However, surveys have suggested that 70% of care homes carry out the practice.
Complete ban
Mr Watson said when he found out his mother had been given a sedative by staff at her care home, he asked them to stop.
"I would like Scotland to be the first country in the world to say 'look this is wrong - it shouldn't happen'," he said. "Instead it could be the first country in the world to sanction it officially.
"It's very very convenient for staff at care homes to conceal drugs in the food and drink of residents, not for therapeutic problems but to make the residents easier to manage.
Medication is sometimes crushed or combined with food
"This can adversely affect the quality of life of residents. This is a human rights issue."
Donald Lyons, director of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, said it would be a mistake to introduce a complete ban.
"If you stop giving medication covertly, quite a few people would not receive the medication they need," Mr Lyons added.
Lindsay Scott, from Help the Aged, said if medication had been prescribed by a doctor with the family's consent and dispensed appropriately then they would endorse it being given covertly to violent or confused residents.
"It is simply a practical matter, it's in the patient's best interests but, of course, trust is implicit," he said.
Ranauld Mare, of care home body Scottish Care, said workers were in a difficult position.
"Whichever way they play it they could be deemed not to have acted in the best interests of the residents," he said.
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