THE CHALLENGES OF THE

PATIENT’S ETHICAL
PROBLEM
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN THE PHARMACY PRACTICE

Ethical Dilemmas
• They arise when 2 or more of
these ethical principles appear
to be in conflict and may be
resolved through closer
scrutiny of the situation or
thoughts concerning other
courses of action.
 THE BASIS OF ETHICS

Ethics ask the question:

“What should I do”?

 THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-MALEFICENCE

• A fundamental duty in patient care and in

social life generally consists of not inflicting
harm, injury, death to other persons.
• To avoid harming patients even unintentionally,
the pharmacist must be technically competent
and knowledgeable about new product
developments, the interactive quality of
various medications, and the characteristics of
a particular patient (e.g. who may suffer an
allergy to certain medication that is entirely
safe for most others).
 THE PRINCIPLE OF BENEFICENCE
• It expresses this sense that
morality requires more than
just staying out of another’s
way, rather on occasion we
may be obligated to step in and
aid others.
• Duties are to prevent harm,
remove harm, and provide
benefits.
 THE PRINCIPLES OF
RESPECT FOR PERSONS / AUTONOMY

• This shall prohibit us to treat a person merely as

an instrument or means to achieve our ends and
purposes.
THE PRINCIPLE OF
LOYALTY
(TO THE PROFESSION)

• It is concerned with the fulfillment of the

ethical self.
• As an ethical principle, loyalty requires that
we give the persons to whom we are loyal
their ethical due.
THE PRINCIPLE OF DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE

• The principle of distributive justice requires the

pharmacist to consider whether the resources
the pharmacist provides to patients are
distributed fairly and equitably.
SOURCES OF ETHICS IN
HEALTH AND
PHARMACY
DECLARATION OF GENEVA:
• Written in 1948, revised in 1968, and again in
1983.The main principles are:

1. To make the health of my patient my first

consideration
2. To consecrate my life to the service of
humanity
3. To respect my patient’s secrets after death
DECLARATION OF HELSINKI 1964
(LAST REVISED 2013)

• In any research, the interests of subject must

always prevail over interests of science and
society.
 PHARMACY CODE OF ETHICS

• American Pharmaceutical Association was published in

1852. Last revision was in 1994.
• The first code of ethics of the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) was published in
1944, and a new version is adapted in 2001.
• The FIP issued a code of ethics for pharmacy in 1997.
• Some countries include the profession’s code of
practice in their laws, and the law should be obeyed.