Consideration should be given to the development of transdisciplinary codes of ethics, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) recommends in a new statement on codes of ethics for pharmacists.
The Federation is calling for pharmacists associations in every country to have, produce or support the development of an up-to-date code of ethics. FIP’s statement document Codes of ethics for pharmacists details the minimum obligations that such codes should include.
Consideration should be given to the development of transdisciplinary codes of ethics, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) recommends in a new statement on codes of ethics for pharmacists.
The Federation is calling for pharmacists associations in every country to have, produce or support the development of an up-to-date code of ethics. FIP’s statement document Codes of ethics for pharmacists details the minimum obligations that such codes should include.
“This statement of professional standards relating to codes of ethics for pharmacists is intended to reaffirm and publicly state the obligations that form the basis of the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. These obligations, based on established ethical principles, are provided to enable national associations and regulators of pharmaceutical practitioners, through their individual codes of ethics, to guide pharmacists in their relationships with patients and carers, and with other health professionals and society generally. They should also guide individual pharmacists in their daily practice of the profession,” said Andy Gray, chairman of the FIP code of ethics policy committee.
The statement is based on an FIP reference document “Pharmacist ethics and professional autonomy: imperatives for keeping pharmacy aligned with public interest”, which was also released today. This document provides a background to the FIP statement, reflecting growing concerns over the potential erosion of pharmacist professional autonomy, workplace and financial pressures and external influences. It also notes that pharmacists are increasingly involved in activities where moral decisions have to be made.
“Pharmacists are increasingly called upon to make difficult choices in positions where they must balance their obligations to individual patients with those to their employers or places of employment. This applies not only to pharmacists who are employed by corporate structures, in community, hospital or industrial settings, but also to those employed in the public sector, military forces or by health insurers. Divided loyalty is a challenge for all health professionals, including pharmacists. Pharmacists must be allowed to continue to provide independent professional judgements in the best interest of patients,” Mr Gray said.
