Pharmaceutical Ethics And Practice

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the revised code of ethics for British pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. It discusses the provision of medical care and the important role that pharmacists play in the public health system in the UK. The paper also looks at the possiblity of lifting the professional practice of pharmacy to new heights of ethical proficiency and integrity through a revised code of pharmaceutical ethics and practice. The paper provides the writer's personal views on the issue, as well as the writer's learning diary.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Literature Review
Key Principles
Role and Responsibilities
Ethical Development
Advertised Drugs
Discussion
Commentary
Learning Diary

From the Paper:

"The global withdrawal of the drug Rofecoxib from the market in 2004 illustrates this point. Rofecoxib was no more effective than alternative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in treating the symptoms of arthritis but it was widely promoted as safer and accepted by the public as such. Although there were studies that it brought the side effect of increased heart disease risks, the drug made it big in the market, with 80 million prescriptions worldwide3. The market success of the drug is a testament to the triumph of marketing over science. Only after the US Food and Drug Administration reported 35,000 cases of cardiac arrests and a congressional investigation was consequently held that the drug was pulled out. The incident highlighted the need to ensure that health professionals are adequately prepared to evaluate promotional claims, and to assess and understand interactions with the pharmaceutical industry."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ambler, S., 2006, Pharmacy Education - Fit for the Future, Education Policy Lead.
• Caamano F., Figueiras, A., Gestal, I. & Otero, J.J., 2002, Influence of Commercial Information on Prescription Quantity in Primary Care, European Journal of Public Health 12 (3).
• Caudill T.S., Johnson M.S., Rich E.C. & McKinney W.P., 1996, Physicians, Pharmaceutical Sales, Representatives and the Cost of Prescribing, Family Medicine 5.
• Elwell, R.J. & Bailie, G.R., 2002, Influence of Classroom and Clinical Experience on Ethical Decision Made by Doctor of Pharmacy Students, International Journal of Pharmacy Education 1.
• Goodman, S.G., 2003, Professionalism, Ethics and Empathy: What Pharmacy Schools can Learn from the Medical School Experience, Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.

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