Code of ethics

 

 

Code of Ethics for Community Pharmacists –

Introduction

Ethics means moral principles and is the science of moral duty. A Code of Ethics is a carefully formulated set of principles and rules of professional conduct that guides members of a profession.

The development of a code of ethics reflects the growth of professional values and moral responsibility.

Difference Between Ethics and Law

Ethics	Law
Rules by which a profession regulates the conduct of its members	Rules of human conduct binding on all persons in a state or nation
Enforced by professional bodies	Enforced by government authorities
Violation may result in loss of professional privileges	Violation may result in fines, penalties, or imprisonment
Encourages moral responsibility and service	Prevents harmful actions and maintains order

Law may prevent a person from harming others, but ethics encourages individuals to help others and serve society.

Pharmaceutical Code of Ethics

The pharmacy profession is noble and service-oriented. Pharmacists are responsible for handling, compounding, dispensing, distributing, and selling medicines, including potent and poisonous drugs.

Pharmacists must:

• Safeguard public health.
• Maintain high standards of professional conduct.
• Understand that deviation from ethical standards lowers the status of the profession.
• Fulfil professional obligations honestly and responsibly.
• Uphold the laws of the state and nation.
• Serve society with dedication and integrity.

Ethics of Pharmacists in Relation to Their Job

1. Scope of Pharmaceutical Services

• Pharmaceutical services should be comprehensive and readily available.
• Emergency supplies should be provided whenever required.
• Pharmacy premises must be registered according to statutory requirements.

2. Conduct of the Pharmacy

The pharmacy should:

• Maintain cleanliness and proper conditions.
• Prevent contamination and dispensing errors.
• Reflect a professional appearance.
• Clearly indicate that professional pharmacy practice is being carried out.

Signboards and Notices

• Signs and notices should be modest in size and wording.
• Notices regarding government schemes such as Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) may be displayed.

Responsibility

• Every pharmacy should be under the personal control of a registered pharmacist.
• The pharmacist is primarily responsible for maintaining professional standards.
• Owners should not obstruct pharmacists in performing their duties.

3. Handling of Prescriptions

When receiving a prescription:

• Accept it without criticizing or commenting on the prescriber's treatment.
• Avoid expressions of surprise or alarm that may create anxiety in patients.
• Answer patient queries carefully and professionally.

Alteration of Prescription

A pharmacist should not:

• Add ingredients.
• Omit ingredients.
• Substitute ingredients.
• Alter the composition of a prescription.

without the consent of the prescriber, except in emergencies or when required purely for pharmaceutical technique without affecting therapeutic action.

Errors in Prescriptions

If there is:

• Omission
• Incompatibility
• Overdose
• Obvious error

The prescription should be referred back to the prescriber for clarification or correction.

Refilling Prescriptions

• Follow only the prescriber's instructions.
• Advise patients to use medicines exactly as directed.

4. Handling of Drugs

A pharmacist should:

• Dispense medicines accurately.
• Weigh and measure ingredients correctly using proper equipment.
• Avoid visual estimation.

Quality of Drugs

Only standard-quality medicines should be used.

A pharmacist must never dispense:

• Spurious drugs
• Substandard drugs
• Unethical preparations

Dangerous and Habit-Forming Drugs

A pharmacist should exercise caution while handling:

• Poisonous drugs
• Narcotic drugs
• Habit-forming substances

Such drugs should not be supplied if there is reason to believe they will be misused.

5. Apprentice Pharmacists

When supervising trainees:

• Provide adequate practical training.
• Ensure development of professional skills and competence.
• Issue certificates only when trainees have achieved the required standards.

Pharmacist in Relation to Trade

1. Price Structure

The price charged should be:

• Fair and reasonable.
• Consistent with the quality and quantity supplied.
• Sufficient to provide proper remuneration for professional knowledge, skill, time, and responsibility.
• Not excessive or exploitative.

2. Fair Trade Practices

A pharmacist should not:

• Engage in cut-throat competition.
• Offer gifts, prizes, or inducements to attract customers unfairly.
• Deliberately charge unreasonably lower prices to harm competitors.

Professional Courtesy

If a prescription or order intended for another pharmacy is received by mistake:

• Refuse to accept it.
• Direct the customer to the correct pharmacy.

Intellectual Property

A pharmacist should not imitate or copy:

• Labels
• Trademarks
• Trade names
• Symbols of other pharmacies

3. Purchase of Drugs

Drugs should always be purchased from:

• Genuine manufacturers
• Reputable wholesalers
• Authorized distributors

A pharmacist should never aid or support:

• Manufacture of spurious drugs
• Distribution of counterfeit drugs
• Sale of substituted drugs
• Illegal possession of medicines

Pharmacist in Relation to Trade

4. Hawking of Drugs

• Hawking (door-to-door selling) of drugs and medicinal products should not be encouraged.
• Pharmacists should not solicit orders for medicines by visiting homes or through unauthorized marketing methods.
• Self-service drug stores should be discouraged because:
• Medicines may be distributed without professional supervision.
• It promotes self-medication.
• It increases the risk of misuse of drugs.

5. Advertising and Displays

Advertisements should be ethical, dignified, and professional.

A pharmacist should not use advertisements that contain:

Prohibited Advertising Practices

a) Wording, designs, or illustrations that reflect unfavorably on pharmacists or the profession.

b) Direct or indirect criticism of competitors, products, remedies, or treatments.

c) Misleading, false, or exaggerated claims.

d) Use of the word "Cure" for any disease or illness.

e) Guarantees of therapeutic effectiveness.

f) Appeals to fear or anxiety.

g) Offers of money refunds for medicines.

h) Prize competitions, gifts, or lottery schemes.

i) References to doctors, hospitals, nurses, or use of terms such as "Doctor (Dr.)" or "Nurse" in relation to a medicine unless already established.

j) References to sexual weakness, premature ageing, or loss of virility.

k) Indecent or improper references to sexual disorders.

Display of Advertised Products

• A pharmacist should not display or promote products known to be advertised through unethical or misleading advertisements.

Pharmacist in Relation to the Medical Profession

1. Limitation of Professional Activity

Medical Practitioners

• Medical practitioners should generally avoid owning drug stores because it may encourage:
• Coded prescriptions
• Monopolistic practices
• Conflict of interest
• Harm to patients and the pharmacy profession

Pharmacists

A pharmacist must not:

• Diagnose diseases.
• Prescribe medicines independently.
• Practice medicine even if requested by patients.

Exception

• In accidents and emergencies, a pharmacist may provide First Aid until medical assistance becomes available.

Recommendation of Doctors

• A pharmacist should not recommend a particular doctor unless specifically asked by the patient.

2. Clandestine Arrangements

A pharmacist should never:

• Enter into secret agreements with physicians.
• Offer commissions, gifts, or financial benefits to doctors.
• Provide incentives in exchange for referrals or patronage.

Such practices are unethical and damage professional integrity.

3. Liaison with the Public

The pharmacist acts as a bridge between the medical profession and the public.

Professional Development

A pharmacist should:

• Keep up-to-date with advances in pharmacy and allied sciences.
• Regularly read:
• Books
• Journals
• Scientific magazines
• Professional publications

Public Education

A pharmacist should educate the public about:

• Health promotion
• Disease prevention
• Hygiene
• Sanitation
• Rational use of medicines

Contribution to Society

• Participate in nation-building activities.
• Promote public health awareness.
• Contribute to advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge.

4. Confidentiality

A pharmacist must:

• Maintain confidentiality of patient information.
• Never disclose information obtained during professional practice.

Disclosure Allowed Only When:

• Required by law.
• Ordered by a competent legal authority.

Maintaining patient trust is an essential ethical duty.

Pharmacist in Relation to His Profession

1. Professional Vigilance

A pharmacist should:

• Follow all pharmaceutical laws and regulations.
• Encourage others to comply with professional standards.
• Report unethical and illegal practices.

Professional Responsibility

• Support fellow pharmacists in legitimate scientific and professional matters.
• Help eliminate unethical individuals from the profession.
• Preserve the dignity and reputation of pharmacy.

2. Law-Abiding Citizen

A pharmacist should:

• Be a responsible citizen.
• Have adequate knowledge of relevant laws.

Important Areas of Law

• Drug laws
• Pharmacy laws
• Food laws
• Health laws
• Sanitation regulations

A pharmacist should comply with these laws in both professional and personal life.

3. Relationship with Professional Organizations

A pharmacist should:

• Join professional pharmacy organizations.
• Support activities that improve:
• Scientific knowledge
• Professional standards
• Moral values
• Cultural development of pharmacists

Such organizations should not conflict with the Code of Pharmaceutical Ethics.

4. Decorum and Propriety

A pharmacist should:

• Maintain dignity and professionalism.
• Avoid actions that bring disrepute to:
• Himself/Herself
• The pharmacy profession
• Professional colleagues

Pharmacist's Oath

A pharmacist solemnly pledges to:

1. Follow the Code of Ethics prescribed by the Pharmacy Council.
2. Act as an integral member of the healthcare team.
3. Uphold laws and professional standards.
4. Continuously improve knowledge and skills.
5. Provide the best pharmaceutical care and patient counseling.
6. Contribute to the advancement of pharmacy and public health.
7. Help discover, develop, and manufacture quality medicines.
8. Maintain confidentiality of patient information.
9. Support professional pharmacy organizations.
10. Serve humanity with honesty, dedication, and integrity.

 

Quick Exam Points

1. Ethics = Moral principles guiding professional conduct.
2. Law = Rules enforced by government.
3. Pharmacist should not alter a prescription without prescriber's consent.
4. Emergency pharmaceutical services should be available at all times.
5. Only standard-quality drugs should be dispensed.
6. Cut-throat competition is unethical.
7. Drugs should be purchased only from genuine and reputable sources.
8. Pharmacists must protect public health and uphold professional dignity.
9. Poisonous and habit-forming drugs require special caution.
10. The pharmacist in charge is responsible for maintaining ethical standards in the pharmacy.