Ethical consderations

Question 1

What booklet is key for this module

Answer 1

The MEP : on rpharms.com

Question 2

Professionalism in practice:

Answer 2

1. Role model
2. Knowledge - maintain & develop
3. Trustworthy - Act honestly, Integrity
4. Being respectful to others, treat with dignity
5. Show empathy, compassion
6. Being polite & considerate to others
7. Maintain personal and professional boundaries

Question 3

Reading further for : confidentiality

Answer 3

• MEP
• Appendix 3 : Gphc in practice - guidance on confidentiality

Question 4

Confidentiality meaning in workplace :

Answer 4

Pharmacy professionals must respect and maintain a person’s confidentiality and privacy

Question 5

People receive safe and effective care when pharmacy professionals…

Answer 5

• Manage information responsibly and securely in their practice
• Maintain the person’s privacy and confidentiality in the pharmacy environment
• Do not discuss information that can identify the person, when the discussions can be overheard
  or seen by others not involved in their care
• Ensure that everyone in the team understands the need to maintain a person’s privacy and confidentiality
• Work in partnership with the person when considering whether to share their information, except where this would not be appropriate

Question 6

What is the importance of maintaining confidentiality?

Answer 6

> A person may be reluctant to ask for advice, or give a pharmacy professional the information they need to provide proper care, if they believe that the pharmacy professional may not keep the information confidential.
When pharmacy professionals do not handle confidential information appropriately, it can damage public trust and confidence in the pharmacy professions and other healthcare professions.

Question 7

The Duty of Confidentiality

Answer 7

> It is a professional and legal duty to keep confidential the information they obtain during the course of their professional practice.
The duty of confidentiality applies to information about any person, whatever their age and continues to apply after a person’s death.
A duty of confidentiality arises when one person discloses information to another in circumstances where it is reasonable to expect that the information will be held in confidence.
This duty applies to ALL information that pharmacy professionals obtain during the course of their professional practice.

Question 8

What does confidential info include?

Answer 8

1) Electronic and hard copy data

2) Personal details

3)Information about a person’s medication (prescribed and non-prescribed)

4)Other information about a person’s medical history, treatment or care that could identify them

5) Information that people share that is not strictly medical in nature, but that the person disclosing it would expect to be kept confidential

Question 9

Confidential information does NOT include:

Answer 9

1) Anonymous information
2) Pseudonymised information
3) Information that is already legitimately in the public domain

Question 10

Pharmacy professionals MUST protect info by…

Answer 10

> Take all reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality and security of information

> When processing personal data, ensure it is accurate and, kept up to date

> Prevent accidental disclosure of confidential information

> Access confidential information and records only as part of providing treatment and care

> Make sure that everyone they work with maintains confidentiality

> Raise concerns if they have any regarding data control in their organisations

> Continue to protect a person’s confidentiality after they have died

> Secure storage of confidential information

> Not leave confidential information unattended

> Not discuss identifiable information if the discussions can be overheard or seen by others

> Not disclose information on any websites, internet chat forums that could identify a person

Question 11

When would you disclose confidential information?

Answer 11

• Have the consent of the person under your care
• Have to disclose the information by law
  It is in the public interest
• Or in the vital interests of a person receiving treatment or care, for example if a patient needs immediate urgent medical attention

Question 12

What would you do if a person with capacity refuses to give consent for information to be shared with others e.g. healthcare professionals?

Answer 12

Answer:
- Limited care, consequences
- Use pseudonymised information

Question 13

Reading further : CONSENT

Answer 13

1. MEP
2. Appendix 4 - GphC in practice: guidance on consent

Question 14

Applying the standard of consent

Answer 14

Pharmacy professionals must provide person-centred care

Question 15

What is ‘consent’?

Answer 15

> ‘to express willingness, give permission, agree’.

> People have a basic right to be involved in decisions about their healthcare. Obtaining consent is a fundamental part of respecting a person’s rights

Question 16

Types of consent:

Answer 16

1. explicit (‘or express’) consent
   - when a person gives a pharmacy professional specific permission, either SPOKEN or WRITTEN, to do something
2. Implied consent
   - when person gives consent indirectly

Question 17

What would happen if a pharmacy professional is NOT SURE whether they have implied consent?

Answer 17

They should get explicit consent

Question 18

What information do you need to collect a persons prescription from a pharamcy?

Answer 18

You’ll usually be asked to confirm the name and address of the person you’re collecting the prescription for

Question 19

For consent to be valid the person must:

Answer 19

> Have the capacity to give consent
Be acting voluntarily
Have sufficient, balanced information to allow them to make an informed decision.
Be capable of using and weighing up the information provided.
Understand the consequences of not giving consent

Question 20

What is ‘Capacity’?

Answer 20

> In England and Wales, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a person lacks capacity if at the time the decision needs to be made, they are unable to make or communicate the decision because of an impairment or disturbance that affects the way their mind or brain works.

> In Scotland, under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, a person lacks capacity if they cannot act, make decisions or communicate them, or understand or remember their decisions because of a mental disorder or physical inability to communicate in any form.

Question 21

By assessing capacity: to make an informed decision, the person should be able to:

Answer 21

• Understand the information provided
• Remember the information provided
• Use and weigh up the information provided, and
• Communicate their decision to the pharmacy professional (by any means).

Question 22

Reading further : Religious beliefs

Answer 22

GphC - Regulate (June 2017)

Question 23

Religion, personal values and beliefs:

Answer 23

I> t is important that pharmacy professionals understand and keep to the relevant framework of equalities and human rights legislation.

> For example, the Equality Act 2010 protects individuals from direct and indirect discrimination, and harassment, because of nine ‘protected characteristics’ including religion or belief.

> Employers must also keep to the relevant employment, human rights and equalities law, and must NOT discriminate against pharmacy professionals because of their stated or perceived personal values or beliefs, including religion.

Question 24

Cases where a pharmacy professional’s religion, personal values or beliefs may influence their day-to-day practice:

Answer 24

Services related to:
1. contraception (routine or emergency)
2. fertility medicines
3. hormonal therapies
4. mental health and wellbeing
5. substance misuse
6.sexual health

Question 25

What should you do in a situation where Religious beliefs is involved?

Answer 25

> Recognise diversity
Take responsibility
Consider:
- Work location and range of services
- Openness between the pharmacy professional and their employer
- Making the care of the person the priority
- Handling requests sensitively

Question 26

Can a pharmacist refuse to prescribe/supply/dispense contraseption?

Answer 26

> Under employment law, pharmacy professionals have the right to refuse to prescribe EHC for religious or personal reasons
But if they do, they have to signpost the patient to a pharmacist who will supply it