Case Studies in Pharmacy Ethics, Second Edition

Every pharmacist, aware or not, is constantly making ethical choices. Sometimes these choices are dramatic, life-and-death decisions, but often they will be more subtle, less conspicuous choices that are nonetheless important. Assisted suicide, conscientious refusal, pain management, equitable and efficacious distribution of drug resources within institutions and managed care plans, confidentiality, and alternative and non-traditional therapies are among the issues that are of unique concern to pharmacists. One way of seeing the implications of such issues and the moral choices they pose is to look at the experiences of practitioners and the kinds of choices they have had to make in situations typically faced by pharmacists. This book is a collection of those situations based on the real experiences of practicing pharmacists. The use of case studies in health care ethics is not new, but in pharmacy it is. This text is an important teaching tool that will help pharmacy students and pharmacists address the increasing number of ethical problems arising in their profession. It is not merely a compilation of cases, but rather is organized for the systematic study of applied ethics. Part I shows how to distinguish ethical problems from other kinds of evaluative judgments and examines the sources of values in pharmacy, posing basic questions about the meaning and justification of ethical claims. Part II explores the basic principles of ethics as they have an impact on pharmacy. Specific cases from clinical settings present in a systematic way the various questions raised by each of the major ethical principles -- benefiting the patient, distributing resources justly, respecting autonomy, dealing honestly with patients, keeping promises of confidentiality, and avoiding harm. Part II examines some of the special problems of contemporary pharmacy such as the linkages between pharmaceutical care and professional practice, human experimentation, reproductive issues, genetic technology, death and dying, and mental health.

every Pharmacist Constantly Makes Ethical Choices. Sometimes These Choices Are Dramatic, Life-and-death Decisions, But Often They Are More Subtle, Less Conspicuous Choices That Are Nonetheless Important. Assisted Suicide, Conscientious Refusal, Pain Management, Equitable And Efficacious Distribution Of Drug Resources Within Institutions And Managed Care Plans, Confidentiality, And Alternative And Non-traditional Therapies Are Among The Issues That Are Of Unique Concern To Pharmacists. One Way Of Seeing The Implications Of Such Issues And The Moral Choices They Pose Is To Look At The Experiences And The Choices That Have Had To Be Made In Situations Typically Faced By Pharmacists. This Book Is A Collection Of Those Situations Based On The Real Experiences Of Practicing Pharmacists. The Use Of Case Studies In Health Care Ethics Is Not New, But In Pharmacy It Is. This Text Is An Important Teaching Tool That Will Help Pharmacy Students And Pharmacists Address The Increasing Number Of Ethical Problems Arising In Their Profession. It Is Not Merely A Compilation Of Cases, But Rather Is Organized For The Systematic Study Of Applied Ethics. Part I Shows How To Distinguish Ethical Problems From Other Kinds Of Evaluative Judgments And Examines The Sources Of Values In Pharmacy, Posing Basic Questions About The Meaning And Justification Of Ethical Claims. Part Ii Explores The Basic Principles Of Ethics As They Have An Impact On Pharmacy. Specific Cases From Clinical Settings Present In A Systematic Way The Various Questions Raised By Each Of The Major Ethical Principles: Benefiting The Patient; Distributing Resources Justly; Respecting Autonomy; Dealing Honestly With Patients; Keeping Promises Of Confidentiality; And Avoiding Killing. Part Iii Examines Some Of The Special Problems Of Contemporary Pharmacy Such As The Linkages Between Pharmaceutical Care And Professional Practice, Human Experimentation, Reproductive Issues, Genetic Technology, Death And Dying, And Mental Health.

joan M. Stachnik

this Book Is A Discussion Of Ethics Concerning Patient Care Issues As They Relate To The Pharmacist. The Purpose Is To Provide Pharmacists With An Opportunity To Become Aware Of Ethics And Moral Issues Encountered Within The Scope Of The Practice Of Pharmacy, And The Ethical Implications Of Their Actions. The Audience Of This Reference Is Any Practicing Pharmacist, Student, Or Any Practitioner Involved In The Education Of Pharmacists. Because Of The Wide Range Of Clinical Situations Presented, Other Healthcare Professionals May Benefit From This Reference. This Reference Contains A Number Of Case Studies In Which A Wide Range Of Situations Encountered By Pharmacists Is Described. Cases Range From Every Day Occurrences In A Community Pharmacy -- Such As Dispensing Of Generic Drugs -- To Care Of Critical And Dying Patients. In Each Case A Situation Actually Encountered By A Pharmacist Involving Some Type Of Moral Or Ethical Issue Is Described. A Commentary Of The Ethical Implications Of The Pharmacist's Action Follows Each Case. The Text Is Arranged In Three Parts -- Ethics And Values In Pharmacy; Ethical Principles In Pharmacy Ethics; And Special Problem Areas -- With Cases Specific To Those Topics Discussed In Each Part. In The Introduction Authors Review The Principles And Concepts Of Ethics By Explaining The Four Basic Questions Of Ethics. Although The Cases Are Not Referenced, Each Topic Section Includes Notes Listing References Pertinent To That Topic. The Authors Of This Book Provide Practical Illustrations Of Ethical Or Moral Issues Facing Practicing Pharmacists. Although There Are Many References On Ethics And The Practice Of Medicine, There Are Few That Relate Ethicsto Pharmacy. In This Reference The Authors Not Only Address Ethical Issues Encountered In Life-and-death Situations, But They Also Include Ethical Case Discussions On Everyday Practices That The Majority Of Pharmacists Encounter.

Pharmacists face ethical choices constantly -- sometimes dramatic life-and-death decisions, but more often subtle, less conspicuous choices that are nonetheless important. Among the topics confronted are assisted suicide, conscientious refusal, pain management, equitable distribution of drug resources within institutions and managed care plans, confidentiality, and alternative and non-traditional therapies. Veatch and Haddad's book, first published in 1999, was the first collection of case studies based on the real experiences of practicing pharmacists, for use as a teaching tool for pharmacy students. The second edition accounts for the many changes in pharmacy since 1999, including assisted suicide in Oregon, the purchasing of less expensive drugs from Canada, and the influence of managed care on prescriptions. The presentation of some cases is shortened, most are revised and updated, and two new chapters have been added. The first new chapter presents a new model for analyzing cases, while the second focuses on the ethics of new drug distribution systems, for example hospitals where pharmacists are forced to choose drugs based on cost-effectiveness, and internet based pharmacies. A model for ethical problem solving Values in health and illness What is the source of moral judgments? Benefiting the patient and others : the duty to do good and avoid harm Justice : the allocation of health resources Autonomy Veracity : dealing honestly with patients Fidelity : promise-keeping and confidentiality Avoidance of killing Abortion, sterilization, and contraception Genetics, birth, and the biological revolution Mental health and behavior control Formularies and drug distribution systems Experimentation on human subjects Consent and the right to refuse treatment Death and dying.