Lecture 10: Ethics And Pharmacy Flashcards
What is the difference between ethics and morals?
Morals usually refers to practices, ethics is concerned with philosophically evaluating those practices
Morals- personal, derived from upbringing, values, culture and/or religion. It can vary from person to person
Ethics- public. A set of standards for professionals or citizens which demands adherence by all.
What is ethics.
Ethics deals with what is right or wrong, good or gem who ought an ought not to be done
How are the words ethics and morals used often?
Interchangeably
What is the relationship between ethics and the law .
Some law enforces behaviour required by morality
Sme law has nothing to do with morality
There are things that are not illegal but they are immoral
There are things which are required by law, but are immoral
Law I subject to moral scrutiny and criticism and it can change.
What is the role of law in professionalism?
The law creates and enforces constraints within which professionals can act
What is he role of the code of ethics in professionalism?
The code of ethics creates further requirement am enforced by professional bodies
Why do we need ethical justifications for laws and codes?
Because recognising the existence of laws me codes doesn’t tell us whom or whether they dee justified
Despite being able to use the words ethics and morals interchangeably… Why is the distinction of ethics and morality important?
Because there are protocols etc which may conflict with what they believe in
In what situation may we break confidentiality?.
If there is very serious harm to the public or to the individual
How doe we justify laws, professional codes and professional obligations?
Refer to western ethics story
Refer to set of commonly accepted principles
Reflect on the role of the professional and what is needed to fulfil it
Reflecr on the elation ship between professionals and their clients
What is the summary of the types of ethical theory?
A) consequentialism: focus on the consequences of the act, common variants = act and rule utilitarianism (means to make decisions)
B) deontology: focus on the action, and typical the rule it falls under
Common variants= kanthan ethics, social contract theory
C) virtue ethics: focus on the character of the agent
What do all the summaries of ethical theory have in common (except for act utilitarianism)
They each provide justification for professional obligations such as confidentiality, and general principles such as respect for autonomy
What is the relationship between ethical theories, principles and obligations?
Ethical theories such as consequentialism/utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics
Lead to
Principles like respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice
Which lead to
Specific ethical obligations like confidentiality, honesty, seeking informed consent
What is principlism in biomedical ethics?
An influential approach made days by Beauchamp and Childress
No need to debate ethical theory as all can agree on the four principles
Each principle is prima facie (binding)
But can be outweighed by other principles in particular situations
These principles underpin specific professional obligations and rules
In the pharmacists code of ethics pre2011, what is principle 1 and what does it mean
Autonomy:
The pharmacist shall promote patient self detonation, respecting the patients right to understandable information, privacy and confidentiality
