Abstract
This article tries to develop an ethical reasoning that can be applied to (the practice of) pharmacy. Only general principles, based on accepted values in western society, lead to guidelines for ethical behaviour. Such essential values are personal autonomy, democracy and solidarity.The principle of nonmaleficence can be derived from these. Results of this analysis can be applied to health care and pharmacy practice. Subchapters deal with questions such as budget limitations and the autonomy of the patient versus that of the care provider. It concludes that protocols are important tools for ethical behaviour in every day practice. The ethical problem appears to be the unequal access to the health care system.An analysis of pharmaceutical care in the light of ethics can help to formulate the pharmacist's responsibilities. The principle of nonmaleficence is strongly connected to the pharmacy profession. Pharmacists should focus more on possible negative outcomes of pharmacotherapy. Monitoring the patient's medication, identification and prevention of possible adverse effects, medication surveillance, proper communication and information about the use of medicines are therefore priority items within our profession. A definition of target groups for pharmaceutical care will facilitate this task.A suggestion for a general code of ethics for pharmacists is proposed and compared with the code of ethics as currently accepted by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)‐ council.
References
Hintjes J, Analytische ethiek; 1997; Giotto b.v., Vaals-Montalcino.
Thompson M, Teach yourself philosophy; 1995; Hodder and Stoughton, London.
Ethica Nichomachea; Aristoteles; Uitg. Kallias b.v., Amsterdam 1997.
Singer P ed, Applied ethics, Oxford readings in philosophy 1986.
Kant I, Fundering voor de metafysica van de zeden;1997; Uitg. Boom Amsterdam. Syllabus' Ethiek als levenskunst'; Ataraxia 1998, Amsterdam/Amorgos
Universal declaration of Human Rights; 1948
Leijen, A; Profielen van ethiek, Van Aristoteles tot Levinas; uitg. Coutinho 1992.
Levinas E, Het menselijk gelaat; 1969; Uitg. AMBO, Baarn
Keij J, Eenvoudig gezegd: Levinas;1993; Uitg. Kok Agora; Kampen
Spreeuwenberg C, Hoe ver reiken de verantwoordelijkheden van de huisarts? Medisch Contact 1997, 40, 281–4
Dupuis H.M., Ethische aspecten van de kostendiscussie; Pharm. Weekblad 132,p 782, 1997
Rorty R; Contingency, Irony and solidarity; 1989 Cambridge University press.
Nilstun, T., Clinical pharmacy research: A model for ethical analysis; CMA/ESCP symposium on Ethical and economical aspects of pharmacotherapy, june 1998, Prague. Department of Medical Ethics, Lund Univ, Sweden.
De Vries G, Fatsoenlijke risicomaatschappij vergt een nieuwe constitutie; De Volkskrant 14–2-1998
Who decides on treatment: The patient versus the state. Drug and therapeutics bulletin, 1999, 37, 55–6.
Key dilemma's in prescribing and the position of health; Drug & therapeutics Bulletin 1997, 35, 47–8
Nieuwe geneesmiddelen op proef; Geneesmiddelen bulletin;1997, 31, 62–3.
Eland, IA et al. Verstrekking van taxoiden in 1996: ongelijkheid in de zorg; NTvG 1998, 142, pg 518
Paclitaxel and docetaxel; Drug and therapeutics Bulletin, 1997, 35, 43–6
Hepler CD, Strand, LM; Opportunities and responsibilities in pharmaceutical care. Am. J. Hosp. Pharmacy' 90,47,533–43
Schermer, M.,; Autonomie in de gezondheidsethiek en zorgethiek; Tijdschift voor empirische filosofie 1997, 21, 353
Bemt; P.v.d.; Pharm. Weekblad 1998, 133, 1269
Lazaron J; Pomeranz BH; Corey PN, Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. A meta analysis of prospective studies; JAMA 1998, 279, 1200–5
Bates DW, Drugs and adverse drug reactions; How woried should we be. JAMA 1998, 279, 1216–7
Boxtel CJ v; Hekster YA, Grootheest AC v; Kennis en bewustwording van ongewenste effecten is noodzakelijk. Pharm. Weekblad 1998, 133, 1813
Beauchamp TL, Childress JF,; Principles of biomedical ethics, 4 th edition, 1996. Oxford University Press, New York.
Tronto, JC; Moral boundaries: A political argument for an ethic of care, Routledge, New York/London 1993
Hudson S.; Pharmacy practice research; the student's missing link; Pharm. Weekblad 1998, 37, 1384
Rahimtoola H, Timmers A, Dessing R, Hudson S, Target groups for pharmaceutical care; Pharmacy World & Science 1996, 105–13
International Pharmacy journal; Suppl to vol 11, no 5, 1997
Heifetz, MD; Ethics in medicine; 1996; Prometheus Books, NewYork.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dessing, R. Ethics applied to pharmacy practice. Pharm World Sci 22, 10–16 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008723226368
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008723226368