APC Professional Ethics and Standards 2

Question 1

A pharmacist discovers a prescribing error that could harm a patient. What is the FIRST ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Contact the prescriber immediately to clarify

Answer

The pharmacist's primary duty is patient safety, requiring immediate contact with the prescriber to resolve the error before dispensing.

Question 2

Under the Australian Pharmacy Council competency standards, which domain specifically addresses a pharmacist's responsibility to society?

Accepted Answer

Domain 4: Professional and Ethical Practitioner

Answer

Domain 4 covers the professional and ethical obligations pharmacists have to individual patients, the profession, and society at large.

Question 3

A patient requests their prescription information be withheld from their family members. A pharmacist should:

Accepted Answer

Comply with the patient's request unless safety is at risk

Answer

Patients have a right to confidentiality, and pharmacists must respect this unless there is an overriding safety concern.

Question 4

Which principle best describes a pharmacist's duty to act in the patient's best interest even when it conflicts with the patient's own stated wishes?

Accepted Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Beneficence refers to acting in the patient's best interest, though it must be balanced against patient autonomy.

Question 5

A pharmacist working for a chain pharmacy is pressured by management to meet dispensing quotas that may compromise safety checks. The pharmacist should:

Accepted Answer

Document concerns and escalate through professional channels

Answer

Pharmacists must maintain professional standards regardless of employer pressure, and should document and escalate safety concerns appropriately.

(APC) Australian Pharmacy Council Practice Test

(APC) Australian Pharmacy Council Practice Test

APC Professional Ethics and Standards 2