Synopses & Reviews
Every pharmacist constantly makes ethical choices. Sometimes these choices are dramatic, life-and-death decisions, but often they are more subtle, less conspicuous choices that are nonetheless important. Assisted suicide, conscientious refusal, pain management, equitable and efficacious distribution of drug resources within institutions and managed care plans, confidentiality, and alternative and non-traditional therapies are among the issues that are of unique concern to pharmacists. One way of seeing the implications of such issues and the moral choices they pose is to look at the experiences and the choices that have had to be made in situations typically faced by pharmacists. This book is a collection of those situations based on the real experiences of practicing pharmacists. The use of case studies in health care ethics is not new, but in pharmacy it is. This text is an important teaching tool that will help pharmacy students and pharmacists address the increasing number of ethical problems arising in their profession. It is not merely a compilation of cases, but rather is organized for the systematic study of applied ethics. Part I shows how to distinguish ethical problems from other kinds of evaluative judgments and examines the sources of values in pharmacy, posing basic questions about the meaning and justification of ethical claims. Part II explores the basic principles of ethics as they have an impact on pharmacy. Specific cases from clinical settings present in a systematic way the various questions raised by each of the major ethical principles: benefiting the patient; distributing resources justly; respecting autonomy; dealing honestly with patients; keeping promises of confidentiality; and avoiding killing. Part III examines some of the special problems of contemporary pharmacy such as the linkages between pharmaceutical care and professional practice, human experimentation, reproductive issues, genetic technology, death and dying, and mental health.
Review
"Very interesting and eye-opening...What is so compelling about this book is that it presents a plethora of ethical situations by relating pharmacists' real-life stories in the form of case studies...I am sure you will find yourself immersed in at least one or more case studies with personal application to your practice."--US Pharmacist
"Very interesting and eye-opening...What is so compelling about this book is that it presents a plethora of ethical situations by relating pharmacists' real-life stories in the form of case studies...I am sure you will find yourself immersed in at least one or more case studies with personal application to your practice."--US Pharmacist
"This edition has been updated with two new chapters and many additional cases to keep it current with the changing landscape of healthcare in the United States. As a pharmacy school teacher of an elective course in pharmaceutical ethics, I highly recommend this book."--Doody's
"Case Studies in Pharmacy Ethics...is an excellent read for any health care practitioner."--JAMA
Review
"Very interesting and eye-opening...What is so compelling about this book is that it presents a plethora of ethical situations by relating pharmacists' real-life stories in the form of case studies...I am sure you will find yourself immersed in at least one or more case studies with personal application to your practice."--US Pharmacist
Table of Contents
Preface Introduction: Four Questions of Ethics
1. A Model for Ethical Problem Solving
2. Values in Health and Illness
3. What is the Source of Moral Judgments?
Part II: Ethical Principles in Pharmacy Ethics
4. Benefiting the Patient and Others: The Duty to Do Good and Avoid Harm
5. Justice: The Allocation of Health Resources
6. Autonomy
7. Veracity: Dealing Honestly with Patients
8. Fidelity: Promise-Keeping and Confidentiality
9. Avoidance of Killing
Part III: Special Problem Areas
10. Abortion, Sterilization, and Contraception
11. Genetics, Birth, and the Biological Revolution
12. Mental Health and Behavior Control
13. Formularies and Drug Distribution Systems
14. Experimentation on Human Subjects
15. Consent and the Right to Refuse Treatment
16. Death and Dying
Appendix
The Hippocratic Oath
Code of Ethics for Pharmacists
List of Cases
Index