Ethics in Pharmacy Pracice

Abdulrahman M Alahdal, Pharm.D

Assistant Professor, chairman

Clinical Pharmacy Dep. KAU

Outline

General Terms and Definition.

Source of Ethical Standards.

Obligation of The Profession.

General Practice Examples.

Concusion.

What is Ethics?

Ethic is the systematic study of what is right and good with respect to conduct and character.

A Covenant

= promise = legal Contract

to provide quality pharmacetuical care.

Ethical Dilemmas

e.g., A ptient doesn’t want to take

his meds, out of stock drugs.

A patient drugs for AIDS.

Irreconcilable Problems

e.g., Unauthorized but medically

need refill, over prescribing diet

pills / Antibiotics.

Sources of Ethical Standarads

1.General Moral Code.

2.Professional Moral Code.

Ethical Principles

A- Autonomy: Independent decision

e.g., Informed Consent, Refusal

of treatment

B- Nonmaleficience: At least do no harm

e.g., Dispensing drug with no enough

information.

Negligance: Professional misconduct

e.g., Digoxin tox., TPN tox.

Tonsillitis case

Erectile dysfunction drugs

C. Beneficence: to do good, to remove harms, to

promote welfare.

• Firman / Aircraft

• Isolation room / AIDS / Hepatitis

D. Justice: Fair distribution of goods and harm is right

Professional Obligations

Veracity: Truthful

Privacy: Left alone

Fidelity: Keep promises

Confidentiality: Patient information

General Pharmacy Practice Ethical Examples

1.Drug Exhange

2.Drug Waste

3.Drug Marketing

4.Patient Counseling

Conclusion

Pharmacy is a moral practice and pharmacists have special moral obligations, including but not limited to, promoting the welfare of patients, protecting them from harm, and respecting their rights to self-determination