Professional Ethics Flashcards
What is an ethical dilemma?
A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle
What are some common ethical dilemmas in healthcare?
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD):
Dispensing prescribed medicines for self-administration or to be administered by a physician or nurse practitioner
Abortifacients:
Drugs that end pregnancies (Mifegymiso)
Emergency Contraceptives:
May prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus
Oral Contraceptives
What are the guiding principles in bioethics?
- Autonomy: Ability to accept or refuse care (level of understanding)
- Confidentiality: Not to divulge patient information (maintain trust)
- Telling the truth: Cannot mislead or misinform the patient (nor permit others to mislead or misinform)
- Do no Harm: Seek to improve patient’s condition while minimizing pain and discomfort (well-being - mental, physical, and spiritual)
- Justice: Equitable distribution of resources and personal responsibility for one’s health
What is Bioethics?
The focus is on rights and principles (non-maleficence, beneficence, truthfulness)
The application of bioethical theory to difficult and challenging ethical dilemmas arising from patient care
What is professional ethics?
Centred on the integrity of the individual clinician in complying with a professional code of behaviour. These codes or norms are reflective of, yet sometimes in conflict with bioethics.
What is the principle of Duty-to-self?
Each person is an individual moral agent, therefore we have a right to our own beliefs and opinions, and should be free to live our lives in the manner we judge best for ourselves. But the extent to our ability to express ourselves is limited to not impede others from exercising the same rights.
What is the principle of Duty-to-Care?
While each person is a moral agent, the freedom to act according to one’s own conscience is further curtailed when we choose to become a healthcare professional
When we assume the privileges of our profession, we must be prepared to put aside some aspects of conscience (duty-to-self) to serve the societal obligations (duty-to-care) of our chosen profession
Are pharmacists in Saskatchewan allowed to refuse to provide the drug to the patient?
A pharmacist is permitted to object to the provision of a certain pharmacy product or service appears to conflict with the member’s view of morality or religious beliefs and if the member believes that HIS OR HER CONSCIENCE WILL BE HARMED BY PROVIDING THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE.
Are pharmacists in Saskatchewan allowed to prevent the patient from obtaining any drug?
No, they cannot prevent patients from obtaining healthcare from other professionals
Pharmacists should abide to the principle of duty-to-care. This means that the decisions of the pharmacist do no harm or promote the well-being of the patient. This might mean the individual member refers the patient to, or pre-arranges access to an alternate source to enable the patient to obtain the service or product that they need. Any alternate means must minimize inconvenience or suffering to the patient or patient’s agent and must maintain patient confidentiality
Are pharmacists in Saskatchewan allowed to express an opinion about the morality of any drug?
No, it would be improper and unethical conduct if the member used the opportunity to promote his/her moral or religious convictions or engage in any actions which demean the patient. (Your moral dilemma should not be passed down to the patient)
Are pharmacists in Saskatchewan allowed to refuse to participate in a referral to another pharmacy?
No, this action impedes a patient’s ability to obtain the service or product that they need.
Duty to refer in good faith is widely recognized as a condition of accommodating conscientious objection. This effectively balances a practitioner’s right to conscience and the patient’s right to professional care
Are pharmacists in Saskatchewan forced to dispense any drug to a patient?
No, but they have a duty-to-refer as a way to ensure the patient is minimally impacted by the conscientious objection
What are the limits of conscience?
Freedom of conscience does not confer a right to indiscriminate recourse to conscientious objection
If conscientious objections become an excuse for limiting the rights of others, the State is obliged to protect, also by legal means, the inalienable rights of its citizens against such abuses
