Pharmacists Face Ethical Issues Regarding Palliative Care
Pharmacists do more than count pills and dole out the proper amount of medications, They also face ethical issues when a patient is dealing with a chronic or terminal illness and desires something that will either help them or at least make them comfortable until the inevitable (death) happens.
These issues were recently discussed at the HOPA Annual Conference 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Attendees discussed a patient case that showed this challenge in action. Because ethics are not part of the standard pharmacy school curriculum, they are something that need to be discussed regularly so that pharmacists can understand the types of situations they may face and make the right decisions so they can keep their license.
Karen Fancher, PharmD, BCOP, an associate professor of pharmacy practice at the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, presented at the conference. She gave attendees an orientation on the four principles of pharmacy ethics. She made it clear that to the greatest extent possible, all decisions should involve justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. This means that pharmacists should be just, improve outcomes, and limit harms, all while respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions.
Fancher then discussed a patient case involving a 47-year-old man named Sam with advanced colon cancer. Despite resection and adjuvant chemotherapy, the disease had progressed rapidly. He was deemed ineligible for immunotherapy or targeted therapy. He frequently went to the hospital for shortness of breath.
Sam would have private conversations with his pharmacist in which he admitted to feeling “tired of fighting.” However, in the presence of his wife and daughter, he vowed to do whatever to live as long as possible.
The medical oncologist recommended a trifluridine-tipiracil combo (Lonsurf, Taiho) plus bevacizumab, but this would not extend Sam’s lifespan significantly. His family members adamantly refused hospice care.
There was a difference between individual autonomy and relational autonomy. While Sam was tired of fighting, his family members were ultimately responsible for addressing his health. There was also the tension between beneficence and non-maleficence, since no treatments were likely to work. Ultimately, Sam left the hospital and died at home.
The good news is that pharmacists do not have to navigate these questions alone. There are committees in place that weigh the competing priorities and provide a recommendation. The committee is composed of physicians, nurses, and attorneys who advise about how to proceed in any situation with legal implications.
Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Pharmacist License & Pharmacy Permit Lawyer
Pharmacists are often tasked with doing more than just filling prescriptions. They also have to make good decisions for patients, but that can be difficult, especially when they have a terminal illness.
A Tampa pharmacist license & pharmacy permit lawyer from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. can assist you if you are a licensed professional dealing with ethical issues. I’ll work hard to help you keep your license. Schedule a consultation by calling (813) 968-6633 or filling out the online form.
Source:
pharmacypracticenews.com/Clinical/Oncology/Article/06-24/Palliative-Cancer-Care-Often-Poses-Ethical-Dilemmas/73911
