crush a tablet before administration without the authorisation of the independent prescriber (Nursing & Midwifery Council 2007b).
A nurse who advises that a tablet is crushed or a capsule opened to assist with swallowing difficulties must proceed with caution. Even when an independent prescriber authorises a medicine to be administered by crushing a tablet a percentage of liability for any harm that is caused will still lie with the administering nurse. The balance of this liability would be assessed in court.