ethics and pharmacy practice Flashcards
(29 cards)
morals focus on what
principally
- the things we feel, and believe: how we differentiate from what is right and wrong.
what are morals based on
Generally based on a core set of values (e.g. religious, spiritual, cultural, secular) that may not be easily debated/discussed
how do they change/evolve over times
they develop out of homogenous groups and evolve over time
law is not what
not feelings, thought or opinions
where laws exist, we have clarity on?
how we must behave!
what is a law
a system of socially-derived rules and regulations that govern behaviour (not feelings, thoughts, or opinions)
what does a violation/breach result in
always results in predictable consequences
laws are created by?
societies
laws constantly evolve - why?
to meet changing societal needs
what do ethics focus on
BEHAVIOUR
not what you think, or believe, what you actually do!
- e.g. if i hate contraception but still dispense it, i am working ethically
what is ethics the examination of
specific, practical issues, focused on behaviours and outcomes, not on feelings, opinions, emotions or motives
do moral and legal principles matter?
multiple stakeholders involved, and multiple perspectives within each one
note - ethics morals and law may conflict with one another
Key Ethical Principles (6)
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Non-Maleficence
- Autonomy
- Honesty
- Fidelity
what is beneficence
Acting in the best interests of the patient: “A pharmacist places concern for the well being of the patient at the centre of professional practice”
what does beneficence have the risk of having
Risk of paternalism
what is paternalism
where we as healthcare professionals thing we know best
what acts as a check on paternalistic beneficence
informed consent as a “check” on paternalistic beneficence
what do we mean by non-maleficence
“First, do no harm”
- Balancing of risks and benefits
- Treatment of that which is medically necessary…and no more
- No use of patients as guinea pigs or for personal/professional gain
- Ordinary processes, mild symptoms, personal problems, or risk conceptualized as “disease”
what is autonomy
the patients right to self determination (to choose what will be done to them)
what are the aspects to autonomy
- informed consent
- capacity to consent
- competent minors
- parental involvement in minors’ decisions
what is honesty
- patients have the right to the truth and we have a duty to tell it and to act with conviction of conscience
what is fidelity
patients have the right to have professional services that promote the PATIENTs best interests
- no inappropriate or excessive prescribing
what is informed consent
patient has right to full disclosure of all relevant aspects of care (including taking of medicines)
- patients must give explicit consent to treatment before
how do we make sure we have determined informed consent
- all relevant info provided
- patient capable of understanding all the info given, and does
- patient agrees without coercion or threat, and consents to only the particular threat
