Pharmacy Ethics in Pharmacy 5

Question 1

A pharmacist is asked to compound a medication that lacks FDA approval for any indication. The most ethical approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Compound only when there is a legitimate medical need that cannot be met by a commercially available product

Answer

Refuse all compounding not specifically FDA-approved

Answer

Compound it freely since compounding pharmacies are exempt from FDA oversight

Answer

Require the patient to sign a waiver and then compound it

Question 2

A pharmacist who is also a part-owner of a specialty pharmacy refers patients to that pharmacy without disclosure. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A conflict of interest that must be disclosed

Answer

Appropriate entrepreneurship

Answer

Standard integrated pharmacy practice

Answer

Illegal kickback under all circumstances regardless of disclosure

Question 3

When a minor seeks emergency contraception without parental consent, the pharmacist should:

Accepted Answer

Know the applicable state law, as many states allow minors to consent to emergency contraception independently

Answer

Refuse without parental consent in all states

Answer

Always require a prescription from a physician

Answer

Dispense freely since it is an OTC product in all states

Question 4

An error occurs in which the wrong drug is dispensed but is caught before patient harm. Ethically, the pharmacist should:

Accepted Answer

Disclose the error to the patient and document it in the pharmacy's error reporting system

Answer

Quietly correct the error and move on

Answer

Blame the technician who filled the prescription

Answer

Only report the error if state law specifically requires it

Question 5

A patient with schizophrenia refuses their antipsychotic medication. After confirming they are legally competent, the pharmacist's ethical duty is to:

Accepted Answer

Respect the refusal, provide counseling on the risks, and communicate with the prescriber

Answer

Force compliance because the medication is clearly needed

Answer

Dispense the medication without the patient's knowledge in another form

Answer

Report the patient to psychiatric authorities immediately

Question 6

Which of the following represents an ethically appropriate relationship between a pharmacist and a pharmaceutical manufacturer?

Accepted Answer

Participating in unbiased continuing education sponsored by a manufacturer with full disclosure

Answer

Accepting significant financial payments to recommend a product to patients

Answer

Exclusively stocking a manufacturer's products in exchange for personal compensation

Answer

Sharing patient data with a manufacturer to help them target marketing

Question 7

A pharmacist working at a chain pharmacy is pressured by management to reduce counseling time to improve throughput. The most ethical response is to:

Accepted Answer

Maintain professional counseling standards and escalate concerns through appropriate channels

Answer

Comply fully — employers have authority over work practices

Answer

Quit immediately

Answer

Counsel patients only when they specifically ask