Transcript File

Chapter 2
Ethics in Pharmacy Practice
Jahangir Moini, MD, MPH, CPhT
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Overview
• A code of ethics publicly states the
principles forming the fundamental basis of
roles and responsibilities in specified field
– For pharmacists – established by American
Pharmaceutical Association
– For pharmacy technicians – established by
American Association of Pharmacy
Technicians
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Ethics, Morals, and Values
• Ethics – sets of principles of good conduct;
systems of moral values
• Morals – good principles or rules of
conduct; more important socially than
values
• Values – desirable standards or qualities, or
rules about right and wrong
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Relationship between
Ethics and the Law
• Law is designed to protect society and help
it function efficiently
• Ethics are designed to assure adherence to
standards, and raise competence levels, and
build values
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Professional Ethics
• “The profession’s interpretation of the will
of society for the conduct of the members of
that profession augmented by the special
knowledge that only the members of the
profession possess.”
• Professional ethics concerned primarily
with moral issues and responsibilities
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Code of Ethics for Pharmacists
• Authored by American Pharmaceutical
Association
• Based on moral obligations
• Designed to establish guidelines for
professional ethical behavior
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Patient-Pharmacist
Relationship
• Must be based upon honesty and trust
• Patient must be comfortable discussing
complete medical history
• Pharmacist must ensure confidentiality of
information entrusted to him or her
• Counseling is key to eliminating medication
errors and establishing trusting relationship
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Patient Advocacy
• Patient advocates can assist with choice of
health care, getting information, discussing
treatments, and many other areas
• Patient’s health and well-being must remain
the focus of work
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Respect for Patient Autonomy
• Autonomy is ability or tendency to function
independently
• Patients must be allowed to decide on
medical care without undue influence from
health care providers
• Informed consent requires patient to be
competent to make health care decisions
after receiving accurate information
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Professional Competence
• Achieved over time with continued learning
and development
• Involves keeping abreast of new
technologies, developments, and latest
medical publications
• Measured with specialized testing, (written
exams, reviews by peers, self-assessment)
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Respect for Other Colleagues
• Always treat colleagues with respect
• Discrimination results in no positive results
• Challenge colleagues when they behave in
less-than-professional ways
• Any unethical behavior shows lack of
respect for other colleagues
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Serving the Community
• Pharmacists are trusted to provide safe and
appropriate medications to the public
• They serve their community by educating
patients and consulting with them to prevent
medication errors
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Equitable Treatment
• Pharmacists must always be ethical and
moral
• Cannot discriminate against patients for any
reason
• Must always follow code of ethics to treat
patients equally
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Code of Ethics for
Pharmacy Technicians
• Authored by American Association of
Pharmacy Technicians
• Pharmacy technicians should strive to make
the care of every patient their utmost
concern, and treat them respectfully,
responsibly, and honestly
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Code of Ethics for
Pharmacy Technicians
• They should use their best professional
judgment at all times
• They should encourage patients to speak
with the pharmacist about concerns or
questions
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Maintain Health and Safety
• When pharmacy technician is physically or
mentally unwell, it can interfere with ability
to provide good care to patients
• Maintaining good health and safe conditions
for themselves and others is essential
• All OSHA requirements must be met and
followed
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Honesty and Integrity
• Pharmacy technicians must always be
honest and immediately report errors to
supervisors
• Patients deserve to know the truth even if it
is difficult to hear
• Patient dignity is of utmost importance and
can only be preserved by honesty and
integrity in communications with them
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Assist and Support
the Pharmacist
• Pharmacy technician assists pharmacist
with all tasks allowed by state law
• A qualified pharmacy technician assists
pharmacists in providing accurate, ethical
health-care that is as free of errors as
possible
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Respect for Other
Health Care Professionals
• Pharmacy technicians must be willing to go
beyond formal job description to help in
other areas of the pharmacy
• They must respect other health care
professionals and work as a team for the
good of all patients
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Professional Competence
• In most states, pharmacy technicians are
under the direct supervision of pharmacists
• Pharmacist is ultimately liable for actions of
pharmacy technician
• Technicians must triple-check every drug
dispensed, all labeling, and instructions
provided by both physician and pharmacist
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Professional Competence
• Pharmacy technicians are increasingly
responsible for duties that used to be the
sole responsibility of a licensed pharmacist
• Important to alert the pharmacist to any
discrepancies in information
• Incompetent actions may result in legal
action against both technician and company
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Respect for Patient Autonomy
• Pharmacy technicians must be able to
function independently, show courtesy,
respect all patients
• Pharmacy staff must respect selfgovernance, rights of liberty, privacy, and
patient choice
• A good attitude should be demonstrated to
everyone on a consistent basis
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Maintaining Confidentiality
• Patient information (written, computerized,
or verbal) is not to be shared with anyone
except approved health care professionals
• Sharing private information with anyone
who is not supposed to know it is a breach
of ethics and may have legal ramifications
• HIPAA governs the disclosure of
confidential information
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Observing Quality and
Legal Standards
• Ethical standards are usually more severe
and demanding than standards required
by law
• Courtesy, compassion, and common sense
are vital to success of pharmacy technician
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Maintenance of
Professional Standards
• The pharmacy technician who works to
improve his or her professional approach in
the workplace will be a great asset to their
employer
• Helps them to gain promotions to positions
of more responsibility
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Loyalty to Employer
• Loyalty – faithfulness or allegiance to a cause,
ideal, custom, institution, or product
• Supporting employer and pharmacist with
loyalty is important for pharmacy technicians
• Pharmacy should loyally support all
employees
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Making Ethical Decisions
• Pharmacy technicians must have a strong
knowledge of ethical issues relating to the
profession, and balance their own value
systems
• Effects their decisions can have on other
individuals must be considered
• Long-term and short-term consequences
must be taken into account
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Identifying the Problem and
Gathering Data
• Pharmacy technicians must focus on
individual problem before making an ethical
decision
• They should ask questions, review
documentation, talk to patients and health
care professionals, and search for further
data for a complete picture of the situation
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Analyzing the Data and
Forming an Action Plan
• After gathering data, the correct ethical
approach must be decided upon,
considering all involved individuals
• An action plan should be formed to evaluate
all the data and ascertain the various tasks
necessary to handle the situation
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Evaluating the Results
• After all steps have been taken to handle
situation, it is important to evaluate the
results
• Positive results that are fair and equitable
are always desired
• Proper evaluation of results helps to shape
the way future problems will be solved
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Ethical Issues in the
Pharmaceutical Industry
• Interests of those in the pharmaceutical
industry sometimes conflict with other
health care professionals’
• Exchange of gifts or money involves
serious ethical issues
• Patient’s welfare must always be placed
above any other consideration
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Ethical Issues in the
Pharmaceutical Industry
• Legitimate patient care must be the goal of
all medication development and
manufacture, not monetary gain that leads
to ethical breaches
• No gifts or money should be accepted by
anyone because they can lead to unethical
decisions, potentially harming patients
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.