...but, the debate goes on.
<snip>
Pharmacists' Rights at Front Of New Debate
Because of Beliefs, Some Refuse To Fill Birth Control Prescriptions
By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 28, 2005; Page A01
Some pharmacists across the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for birth control and morning-after pills, saying that dispensing the medications violates their personal moral or religious beliefs.
The trend has opened a new front in the nation's battle over reproductive rights, sparking an intense debate over the competing rights of pharmacists to refuse to participate in something they consider repugnant and a woman's right to get medications her doctor has prescribed. It has also triggered pitched political battles in statehouses across the nation as politicians seek to pass laws either to protect pharmacists from being penalized -- or force them to carry out their duties.
"This is a very big issue that's just beginning to surface," said Steven H. Aden of the Christian Legal Society's Center for Law and Religious Freedom in Annandale, which defends pharmacists. "More and more pharmacists are becoming aware of their right to conscientiously refuse to pass objectionable medications across the counter. We are on the very front edge of a wave that's going to break not too far down the line."
<more>
<link>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5490-2005Mar27.htmlHere is a code of ethics model for Canadian Pharmacists:
<snip>
Discussion Paper: A Model Code of Ethics for Canadian Pharmacists
Introduction
NAPRA's "Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacists at Entry-to-Practice" and the "Pharmacy Jurisprudence Competencies for Licensure as a Pharmacist in Canada" refer extensively to the pharmacist's obligation to apply "ethical principles" and to understand "the code of ethics".
The National Advisory Committee on Licensing (NACL) developed this Model Code of Ethics as a service to member Provincial Regulatory Authorities and to achieve consistency in the implementation and interpretation of the Professional Competencies and Jurisprudence Competencies. As a model document, it is anticipated that adaptation may be necessary prior to its adoption and implementation by Provincial Regulatory Authorities. It is hoped that the model code of ethics will be a valuable adjunct to the national competency documents and will help to provide clarity to pharmacists, the public and regulators.
The Model Code was developed as a compilation of current provincial pharmacy regulatory codes. This approach was possible due to the high degree of commonality which exists within the profession across Canada. The Committee reviewed Codes of Ethics and related information submitted by the Alberta Pharmaceutical Association, the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia, the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, the Newfoundland Pharmaceutical Association, the Nova Scotia Pharmaceutical Society, the Ontario College of Pharmacists, and the Saskatchewan Pharmaceutical Association.
It should be noted that when the term "patient" is used, it includes the patient's authorized agent as may be applicable.
Preamble
This document deals with the ethics, rather than the laws, governing pharmacy practice. Laws and ethics of health care overlap considerably, since both share the concern that the conduct of health care professionals should reflect respect for the well being, dignity and self-determination of the public. At the same time, there are situations in which the two domains of law and ethics may remain distinct and this Code of Ethics, while prepared with awareness of the law is addressed to ethical obligations.
This Code of Ethics defines and seeks to clarify the obligations of pharmacists to use their knowledge and skills for the benefit of others, to be fair and just in their service to the public, to minimize harm and to respect patient autonomy. It educates pharmacists about their ethical duties and obligations and serves as a tool for self-evaluation and peer review. The Code of Ethics advises the public of the values and moral commitments which pharmacy regulators expect of pharmacists.
Statement l:
Pharmacists hold the health and safety of each patient to be of primary consideration
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists have specialized knowledge and skills about medications, health-related products, and medicinal and non-medicinal therapies and are expected to use these knowledge and skills to benefit their patients.
Pharmacists are aware of the scope of their knowledge and skills and refer patients to appropriate health care professionals when in the best interest of their patients.
Pharmacists supply medications and health related-products that are safe, effective and of good quality.
Statement II:
Pharmacists form a professional relationship with each patient
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists respect the professional relationship with the patient and act with honesty, integrity and compassion.
Pharmacists determine the patient's needs, values and desired outcomes.
Pharmacists seek to involve their patients in the decisions regarding their health.
Statement III:
Pharmacists honour the autonomy, values and dignity of each patient
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists provide their patients with information that is truthful, accurate and understandable so that the patients are able to make informed choices about their health care.
Pharmacists are committed to provide care which is sensitive to, but not prejudiced by, race, religion, social or marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age or health.
Pharmacists respect the informed decisions of competent patients who choose to refuse treatment or services and live at risk.
Pharmacists respect the dignity of patients with diminished competence and seek to involve them, to an appropriate extent, in decisions regarding their health.
Statement IV:
Pharmacists respect and protect the patient's right of confidentiality.
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists keep confidential all information acquired in the course of professional practice.
Confidential information is disclosed only in cases where the patient (or the patient's agent) provides consent, where the law demands or where disclosure will protect the patient or others from harm.
Statement V:
Pharmacists respect the rights of patients to receive pharmacy products and services and ensure these rights are met.
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists who object, as a matter of conscience, to providing a particular pharmacy product or service must be prepared to explain the basis of their objections to pharmacy management, not the patient.
Pharmacist who object, as a matter of conscience, to providing a particular pharmacy product or service have a responsibility to participate in a system designed to respect a patient's right to receive pharmacy products and services. The system must be pre-arranged to enable the patient to obtain the product or service in a timely and convenient manner, minimizing suffering to the patient.
Pharmacists have a duty, through communication and co-ordination, to ensure the continuity of care of patients during pharmacy relocation or closure, job action, natural disasters or situations where continuity of care may be problematic.
Statement VI:
Pharmacists observe the law, preserve high professional standards and uphold the dignity and honour of the profession.
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists obey the laws, regulations, standards and policies of the profession, both in letter and in spirit.
Pharmacists do not condone breaches of the law, regulations, standards or policies by colleagues, co-workers or owners of a pharmacy and report, without fear, such breaches.
Pharmacists accept the ethical principles of the profession.
Pharmacists do not engage in any practice, the conditions of which might cause pharmacists to compromise obey the laws, regulations, standards and policies of the profession.
Pharmacists do not practice under conditions which compromise their freedom to exercise professional judgement or which cause a deterioration of the quality of their professional service or care.
Pharmacists do not enter into arrangements with prescribers that could affect the prescriber's independent professional judgement in prescribing or that could interfere with the patient's right of choice of a pharmacy.
Statement VII:
Pharmacists continuously improve their levels of professional knowledge and skills
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists assume the responsibility of continually evaluating and improving their professional competence to enhance their ability to provide patient care.
Statement VIII:
Pharmacists cooperate with colleagues and other health care professionals so that maximum benefits to patients can be realized.
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists respect the values and abilities of colleagues and other health care professionals.
Keeping confidentiality in mind, pharmacists consult with colleagues or other health care professionals to benefit the patient. If appropriate, pharmacists refer their patients to other health care professionals or agencies.
Pharmacists maintain professional relationships with colleagues and ensure patients' needs are met when supplying colleagues with transfer copies of prescriptions, inventory, etc.
Statement IX:
Pharmacists contribute to the health care system and to societal health needs
Guidelines for interpretation
Pharmacists support positive changes in the health care system by actively influencing and participating in health policy development, review and revision.
Pharmacists support cost-effective therapies.
Pharmacists support the prudent use of health care resources.
Pharmacists participate in programs to educate the public about health.
Pharmacists foster the advancement of knowledge by supporting appropriate research projects, whenever possible.
Pharmacists support environmental issues related to pharmacy by promoting the safe disposal of drugs and related products.
Pharmacists support the training and education of future pharmacists to ensure the public has continued access to pharmacy products and services.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
