PSI Professional Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What ethical considerations apply when a pharmacist suspects a patient is being abused or neglected?
- The pharmacist has an ethical duty to safeguard vulnerable patients, which may require breaking confidentiality to report concerns to appropriate authorities such as the HSE or Tusla (Correct answer)
- Patient confidentiality prevents any reporting
- Abuse is a matter only for the Gardaí, not pharmacists
- Pharmacists should only act if the patient explicitly asks for help
Correct answer: The pharmacist has an ethical duty to safeguard vulnerable patients, which may require breaking confidentiality to report concerns to appropriate authorities such as the HSE or Tusla
Pharmacists have a duty of care that extends to safeguarding vulnerable patients. When abuse or neglect is suspected, confidentiality may be broken to protect the patient. The pharmacist should document concerns, report to appropriate authorities (HSE, Tusla for children), and follow safeguarding protocols.
Question 2: What is the principle of patient autonomy and how does it apply to pharmacy practice?
- The right of a competent patient to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment; pharmacists must respect these decisions while providing full information (Correct answer)
- Patients must always follow the pharmacist's recommendations
- Autonomy only applies to patients in hospitals
- The pharmacist always knows what is best for the patient
Correct answer: The right of a competent patient to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment; pharmacists must respect these decisions while providing full information
Patient autonomy is a fundamental ethical principle. Pharmacists must provide patients with the information they need to make informed decisions, respect their right to refuse or choose treatments, and support shared decision-making. Pharmacists should advise but never coerce.
Question 3: What is the pharmacist's ethical responsibility regarding counterfeit medicines?
- To source medicines only from authorised suppliers, be vigilant for counterfeit products, report any suspicious products to the HPRA, and protect patients from potentially dangerous fake medicines (Correct answer)
- Counterfeit medicines are not a concern in Ireland
- Only customs officials deal with counterfeit medicines
- Check medicines only if a patient complains
Correct answer: To source medicines only from authorised suppliers, be vigilant for counterfeit products, report any suspicious products to the HPRA, and protect patients from potentially dangerous fake medicines
Pharmacists have an ethical and legal responsibility to maintain the integrity of the medicine supply chain. This includes sourcing only from authorised wholesalers, checking deliveries for signs of counterfeiting, using the FMD (Falsified Medicines Directive) verification system, and reporting any suspicious products.
Question 4: How should a pharmacist approach end-of-life care and palliative pharmacy services?
- With compassion and respect, ensuring timely access to palliative medications, providing advice on symptom management, supporting the patient's wishes, and collaborating with the palliative care team (Correct answer)
- End-of-life care is not relevant to pharmacy practice
- Only hospital pharmacists are involved in palliative care
- Refer all palliative patients to their GP without providing any service
Correct answer: With compassion and respect, ensuring timely access to palliative medications, providing advice on symptom management, supporting the patient's wishes, and collaborating with the palliative care team
Community pharmacists play an important role in end-of-life care: ensuring palliative medications (especially controlled drugs for pain management) are readily available, advising on administration and dosing, supporting carers, maintaining dignity and respect, and collaborating with the palliative care team.
Question 5: What is the ethical importance of continuing professional development (CPD) for pharmacists?
- CPD is an ethical obligation to maintain and develop competence throughout a pharmacist's career, ensuring patients receive care based on current knowledge and best practice (Correct answer)
- CPD is optional and only for career advancement
- CPD is only required for the first five years after qualification
- CPD is the employer's responsibility, not the individual pharmacist's
Correct answer: CPD is an ethical obligation to maintain and develop competence throughout a pharmacist's career, ensuring patients receive care based on current knowledge and best practice
CPD is both a regulatory requirement and an ethical imperative. The rapid pace of pharmaceutical science means knowledge quickly becomes outdated. Pharmacists have an ethical duty to maintain competence through lifelong learning, ensuring their practice reflects current evidence and best practice.
Question 6: What ethical principles should guide a pharmacist when dealing with a patient's request for information about their medication that may cause anxiety?
- Provide truthful, balanced information about benefits and risks, using appropriate language, while being sensitive to the patient's emotional state and level of understanding (Correct answer)
- Withhold negative information to avoid causing distress
- Give all information regardless of the patient's emotional state
- Refuse to provide any information and refer to the prescriber
Correct answer: Provide truthful, balanced information about benefits and risks, using appropriate language, while being sensitive to the patient's emotional state and level of understanding
The ethical principles of veracity (truthfulness), beneficence, and autonomy require pharmacists to provide honest, complete information while being sensitive to the patient's needs. Information should be tailored to the patient's level of understanding, delivered with empathy, and balanced between risks and benefits.
PSI Professional Ethics 2
What ethical considerations apply when a pharmacist suspects a patient is being abused or neglected?