Dani,
Hence you can get into the syringe (the pump stops automatically facilitating the removal...very clever!!) take it out, give a bolus, steal the syringe...whatever you like if you are so inclined.
Not quite true as far as I'm aware - the pump operation is suspended - the alarms that protect against tampering are still active. The clinician override (required to deliver a bolus within the lockout period) can be locked out by configuration but if it is not then 2 keyresses are required to give another bolus.
The pump would have to be stopped and restarted to deliver each additional bolus at intervals less than the lockout period (assuming continuous infusion and loading dose are not enabled).
Thus if the syringe is removed during pump suspension an alarm will be issued. To stop the infusion in order to prevent an alarm then 2 keypresses are required. This is tampering in my book. Opening the cover to do this is slightly irrelevant at this stage.
Face it - tampering is basically unavoidable. Whether this is theft of the pump, opening locked covers and overriding pump function or stealing syringes of opiates. It's a clinical issue that involves management of pumps not maintenance of pumps.
The majority that open the syringe would either steal it, really be desperate and in pain or be staff that haven't got a key and need to get in to change it out of desperation. Either way tampering should be discouraged by disciplinary measures, adequate supervison and policy.
I would rather have an "old-fashioned Biomed" that doesn't put forward an argument that is misleading. Read the manual.
