1. Law And Ethics

Question 1

Why study pharmacy law and ethics ?

Answer 1

1. To be able to practice pharmacy
2. To justify your privilege position
3. To defend yourself- risk management (for any actions that may be questioned)

Question 2

Give an example of breaking the law but ‘ethically acceptable’ by the public

Answer 2

Breaking the speed limit by a few mph

Legally wrong but acceptable to an extent

Question 3

Give an example of an ethically wrong action but not against the law

Answer 3

Adultery but not against the law in the UK

Question 4

What questions should be asked when deciding if something is law or ethics ?

Answer 4

Is it illegal (or unlawful)

Is it unethical (or wrong)

What’s the difference ?

Does it matter ?

Question 5

Why does the rules/ law change throughout the years ?

Answer 5

1. Politics change; new leaders come in an out and change the law in their own way.
2. Cultures and morals change
3. New circumstances arise

Question 6

That are the fundamental bioethical principles ?

Answer 6

1. Autonomy
2. Beneficence
3. Non-maleficence
4. Justice

Question 7

What is autonomy ?

Answer 7

Right to self governance

Having the right/ being able to think and make decisions your own decisions.

Question 8

What 3 things should you consider in order for a patient to have full autonomy ?

Answer 8

1. Informed consent- Patient must have all the relevant info in order to make full autonomy and give consent
2. Any restrictions- Autonomy could be restricted by certain circumstances i.e. dementia.
3. Both patient and pharmacist has autonomy and both should be respected but provided that the above is met, the patients autonomy is considered more important as they have the right to decide.

Question 9

What is beneficence?

Answer 9

Duty to promote health and welfare of the patient, not merely to avoid harm aka doing good. (What actions can be taken to do good?)

To benefit the patient

Question 10

What could beneficence conflict with?

Answer 10

May conflict with the principle of autonomy- balance, best interest of patients

Question 11

What is non-maleficence ?

Answer 11

Duty of doing no harm- failing to act could also result in patient harm.

Commitment to protection of patients from harm

Need for competence; duty of care

Question 12

What are the 3 things that could be maleficent?

Answer 12

Withdrawing or withholding life sustains treatment

Treatment of terminally ill patients

Provision of futile treatment

Question 13

What is justice ?

Answer 13

Acting on the basis of fair adjudication between competing interests

Treating equals equally and treating unequals unequally in proportion to morally relevant inequalities

Question 14

What are the 2 main types of law ? Who are they between ?

Answer 14

1. Statutory Law (between government and individuals)

2. Civil Law (between individuals)

Question 15

What types of law comes under statutory law ?

Answer 15

1. Criminal
2. Administrative
3. Professional

Question 16

What are the types of law under civil law ?

Answer 16

1. Common law

2. Case law

Question 17

What should me considered when making professional judgements ?

Answer 17

1. Know the rules
2. Analyse the problem
3. Applies principles
4. Add in experience
5. Exercise pragmatism
6. Synthesise a ‘good’ solution
7. Able to justify the decision

Question 18

What is the systematic process ?

Answer 18

1. Gather relevant facts
2. Prioritise and ascribe values
3. Generate options
4. Chose an option- and justify it

(Where appropriate- make record decision and justification)