Letters, etc.

Wieder, Bracha; Arbisfeld, Jaime

In “Automated Dispensing Cabinet Overrides Should Be Considered Risky, Not Routine” (Drug Watch, July), Diane S. Aschenbrenner discussed the risks of overriding safety controls in automated dispensing cabinets. She points out that this feature should only be used in true emergencies.

We are nursing students. In our clinical experiences at various hospitals, we have witnessed nurses misusing the override feature to shorten the medication administration process, although we have not seen medication errors result from this shortcut. We agree with Aschenbrenner's emphasis on the importance of not overriding safety controls.

Bracha Wieder

Jaime Arbisfeld

Brooklyn, NY