Community pharmacies in the UK have for many years offered medication delivery services to patients for free. In recent months a number of community pharmacy owners have taken the decision to either charge for these delivery services or withdraw them altogether. This dilemma explored the various aspects of this issue not least whether withdrawing delivery services or changing for them may impact on patient care or even potentially cause harm. There are some potentially interesting medico-legal issues here but also the very real potential that these changes may impact on patient care.
Ethical Dilemmas
Dilemma: Will charging for patient medication deliveries cause harm?
Community pharmacies in the UK have for many years offered medication delivery services for free. In recent months a number of community pharmacy owners have taken the decision to either charge for these delivery services or withdraw them altogether.
This dilemma will explore the various aspects of this issue not least whether withdrawing delivery services will impact on patient care.
Dilemma results: Is this GP pharmacist incompetent and unsafe?
The dilemma follows this pharmacist as he joins and settles into working in general practice after previously working in a number of roles in community pharmacy.
Dilemma: Is this GP pharmacist incompetent and unsafe?
In the second in a series of professional dilemmas that will follow a pharmacists new to working in general practice.
Dilemma results: Is this prescribing pharmacist practising unsafely?
Pharmacists have had the opportunity to train as independent prescribers since 2006. Since then many pharmacists have achieved the qualification. This is the first in a series of professional dilemmas that will seek to understand how pharmacists would approach certain situations in relation to being an independent prescriber.
Dilemma: Is this independent prescribing pharmacist practising unsafely?
Pharmacists have had the opportunity to train as independent prescribers since 2006. Since then many pharmacists have achieved the qualification. This is the first in a series of professional dilemmas that will seek to understand how pharmacists would approach certain situations in relation to being an independent prescriber.
Dilemma results: Is it ever appropriate for a pharmacist to have intimate relations with a patient?
The GPhC has published standards for pharmacy professionals. These standards are wide-ranging but include guidance on how pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have an obligation to maintain appropriate relationships with patients. As pharmacy professionals, we find ourselves in very privileged positions in terms of how we interact with patients. Patients trust us and as such we must […]
Dilemma: Is it ever appropriate for a pharmacist to have intimate relations with a patient?
The GPhC has published standards for pharmacy professionals. These standards are wide-ranging but include guidance on how pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have an obligation to maintain appropriate relationships with patients. As pharmacy professionals, we find ourselves in very privileged positions in terms of how we interact with patients. Patients trust us and as such we […]
Dilemma results: Has this pharmacist been constructively dismissed?
This dilemma was all about the topic of constructive dismissal and some events that may lead up to a case of constructive dismissal. We thought it might be useful to share the legal definition of constructive dismissal. Under the terms of s.95(1)(c) of 5 the Employment Rights Act 1996 (“the 1996 Act”) the employee has […]
Dilemma: Has this pharmacist been constructively dismissed?
This dilemma is all about the topic of constructive dismissal and some events that may lead up to a case of constructive dismissal. We thought it might be useful to share the legal definition of constructive dismissal. Under the terms of s.95(1)(c) of 5 the Employment Rights Act 1996 (“the 1996 Act”) the employee has […]