JEAN-JACQUES GAUTIER NPM SYMPOSIUM 2016 access to all medical documentation, as provided for in the OPCAT. In several countries, this is often still a challenge, particularly owing to the confidential nature of medical information. NPMs' role regarding overmedication: the Georgian experience The Georgian NPM has been active since 2010 as part of the Public Defender's Office. It considers that it is qualified to evaluate treatment from a pharmacological (type and dosage) and legal (whether or not this constitutes a form of ill-treatment) perspective. Based on the premise that all treatments must be adapted to each individual, who should be involved in the whole process, it underlines the need to check that there is a therapeutic value to any treatment and that it is never administered as a punishment. The NPM verifies whether guidelines governing medication exist or not and whether doctors are free to prescribe the type and dose of medication. It also checks that the medication is not the only method of management used and identifies any potential side effects. The NPM also suggests evaluating a treatment by: ascertaining if the medication and dose are correct; finding out if the person’s condition is stable or has even improved and if side effects are being managed. If there are no positive results, the prescription should be reviewed. From a methodological point of view, it recommends that NPMs: • acquire specialised knowledge of existing pharmacological treatments; • ascertain the systemic use of overmedication; • pay close attention to risk factors that may result in overmedication, including: staff training and numbers; living conditions in the establishment; the absence of personalised psychosocial treatment; the absence of strategies for prevention and de-escalation and the lack of any proper communication between patients and staff. 30