Professional Codes of Conduct

1. Professional Codes of Conduct Code of Ethics for Pharmacists

2. A code of ethics • is a public pledge to meet certain responsibilities and perform duties for those who do not share the knowledge, expertise, or professional mandate. • It is also a public pledge to adhere to the standards and ideals of conduct and to enforce them through mechanisms that will punish those who violate the essentials of the pledge.

3. The Code of Ethics sets out the principles that you must follow as apharmacist • Different professional organizations have different codes of ethics • American Pharmacists Association )Code of Ethics for Pharmacists( • Royal Pharmaceutical SocietyCode of Ethics for Pharmacistsand Pharmacy Technicians

4. American Pharmacists Association )Code of Ethics for Pharmacists( • I. A pharmacist respects the covenantal relationship between the patient and pharmacist • II. A pharmacist promotes the good of every patient in a caring, compassionate, and confidential manner • III. A pharmacist respects the autonomy and dignity of each patient • IV. A pharmacist acts with honesty and integrity in professional relationships • V. A pharmacistmaintainsprofessionalcompetence • VI. A pharmacist respects the values and abilities of colleagues and other health professionals • VII. A pharmacist serves individual, community, and societal needs • VIII. A pharmacist seeks justice in the distribution of health resources

5. Code of Ethics for Pharmacistsand pharmacy techincians (Royal Pharmaceutical Society ( • The principles of the Code are intended to • guide and supportthe work you do and the decisions you make. • They also inform thegeneral public of the standards of behaviour that can be expected fromthe pharmacy professions.

6. The seven principlesAs a pharmacist or pharmacy technician you must: • 1. MAKE THE CARE OF PATIENTS YOUR FIRST CONCERN • 2. EXERCISE YOUR PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT IN THE INTERESTS OFPATIENTS AND THE PUBLIC • 3. SHOW RESPECT FOR OTHERS • 4. ENCOURAGE PATIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CARE • 5. DEVELOP YOUR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE • 6. BE HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY • 7. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR WORKING PRACTICES

7. 1. MAKE THE CARE OF PATIENTS YOUR FIRST CONCERN)You must(: • Provide a proper standard of practice and care to those for whom youprovide professional services • Take steps to safeguard the well-being of patients, particularly childrenand other vulnerable individuals. • Promote the health of patients

8. Seek all relevant information required to assess an individual’s needs andprovide appropriate treatment and care. Where necessary, refer patientsto other health or social care professionals or other relevantorganisations. • Seek to ensure safe and timely access to medicines and take steps to besatisfied of the clinical appropriateness of medicines supplied toindividual patients.

9. Encourage the effective use of medicines and be satisfied that patients,or those who care for them, know how to use their medicines. • Be satisfied as to the integrity and quality of products to be supplied topatients. • Maintain timely, accurate and adequate records and include all relevantinformation in a clear and legible form.

10. Ensure you have access to the facilities, equipment and materialsnecessary to provide services to professionally accepted standards. • Undertake regular reviews, audits and risk assessments to improve thequality of services and minimise risks to patient and public safety.

11. EXERCISE YOUR PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT IN THEINTERESTS OF PATIENTS AND THE PUBLICyou must: • Consider and act in the best interests of individual patients andthe public. • Make sure that your professional judgement is not impaired bypersonal or commercial interests, incentives, targets or similarmeasures. • Make best use of the resources available to you.

12. Be prepared to challenge the judgement of colleagues and otherhealth or social care professionals if you have reason to believethat their decisions could compromise the safety or care ofothers. • Conduct research and development with integrity and obtain anynecessary permissions from the appropriate regulatoryauthorities. • In an emergency take appropriate action to provide care andreduce risks to patients and the public, taking into account yourcompetence and other options for assistance or care available.

13. SHOW RESPECT FOR OTHERS you must • Recognise diversity and respect the cultural differences, values andbeliefs of others. • Treat others politely and considerately. • Make sure your views about a person’s lifestyle, beliefs, race, gender,age, sexuality, disability or other perceived status do not prejudice theirtreatment or care.

14. Ensure that if your religious or moral beliefs prevent you from providing aparticular professional service, the relevant persons or authorities areinformed of this and patients are referred to alternative providers for theservice they require. • Respect and protect the dignity and privacy of others. Take all reasonablesteps to prevent accidental disclosure or unauthorised access toconfidential information and ensure that you do not disclose confidentialinformation without consent, apart from where permitted to do so by thelaw or in exceptional circumstances.

15. Obtain consent for the professional services, treatment or care youprovide and the patient information you use. • Use information obtained in the course of professional practice only forthe purposes for which it was given or where otherwise lawful.

16. Take all reasonable steps to ensure appropriate levels of privacy forpatient consultations. • Maintain proper professional boundaries in the relationships you havewith patients and other individuals that you come into contact withduring the course of your professional practice, taking special care whendealing with vulnerable individuals.

17. ENCOURAGE PATIENTS TO PARTICIPATE INDECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CARE • When possible, work in partnership with patients, their carersand other healthcare professionals to manage the patient’streatment and care. Explain the options available and helpindividuals to make informed decisions about whether they wishto use particular services or treatment options. • Listen to patients and their carers and endeavour tocommunicate effectively with them. Ensure that, wheneverpossible, reasonable steps are taken to meet the particularcommunication needs of the patient.

18. Take all reasonable steps to share information that patients ortheir carers want or need in a way that they can understand, andmake sure that the information you provide is impartial, relevantand up to date. • ensure that information is sharedappropriately with other health and social care professionalsinvolved in the care of the patient.

19. Respect a patient’s right to refuse to receive treatment, care orother professional services. • Consider and whenever possible take steps to address factorsthat may prevent or deter individuals from obtaining or takingtheir treatment. • Ensure that when a patient is not legally competent, anytreatment or care you provide is in accordance with theappropriate legalrequirements.

20. DEVELOP YOUR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGEAND COMPETENCE • Maintain and improve the quality of your work by keeping yourknowledge and skills up to date, evidence-based and relevant to yourrole and responsibilities. • Apply your knowledge and skills appropriately to your professionalresponsibilities.

21. Recognise the limits of your professional competence; practise only inthose areas in which you are competent to do so and refer to otherswhere necessary. • Undertake and maintain up-to-date evidence of continuing professionaldevelopment relevant to your field of practice.

22. Respond constructively to the outcomes of assessments, appraisals andreviews of your professional performance and undertake further trainingwhere necessary. • Practise only if you are fit and competent to do so. Promptly declare tothe Society, your employer and other relevant authorities anycircumstances that may call into question your fitness to practise or bringthe pharmacy professions into disrepute, including ill health that impairsyour ability to practise, criminal convictions and findings by otherregulatory bodies or organisations.

23. BE HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY • Uphold public trust and confidence in your profession by acting withhonesty and integrity. • Ensure you do not abuse your professional position or exploit thevulnerability or lack of knowledge of others.

24. Avoid conflicts of interest and declare any personal or professionalinterests to those who may be affected. Do not ask for or accept gifts,inducements, hospitality or referrals that may affect, or be perceivedto affect, your professional judgement.

25. Be accurate and impartial when teaching others and when providingor publishing information to ensure that you do not mislead others ormake claims that cannot be justified. • Adhere to accepted standards of personal and professional conduct. • Comply with legal requirements, mandatory professional standardsand accepted best practice guidance.

26. Honour commitments, agreements and arrangements for the provisionof professional services. • Respond honestly, openly and courteously to complaints and criticism.

27. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR WORKING PRACTICES • Communicate and work effectively with colleagues from your own and otherprofessions and ensure that both you and those you employ or supervisehave sufficient language competence to do this. • Contribute to the development, education and training of colleagues andstudents, sharing relevant knowledge, skills and expertise.

28. Take responsibility for all work done by you or under your supervision.Ensure that individuals to whom you delegate tasks are competent and fit topractiseand have undertaken, or are in the process of undertaking, thetraining required for their duties. • Be satisfied that appropriate standard operating procedures exist and areadhered to, and that clear lines of accountability and verifiable audit trailsare in place.

29. Ensure that you are able to comply with your legal and professionalobligations and that your workload or working conditions do notcompromise patient care or public safety. • Make sure that your actions do not prevent others from complying with theirlegal and professional obligations, or present a risk to patient care or publicsafety.

30. Ensure that all professional activities undertaken by you, or under yourcontrol, are covered by appropriate professional indemnity arrangements. • Be satisfied that there is an effective complaints procedure where you workand follow it at all times.

31. Raise concerns if policies, systems, working conditions, or the actions,professional performance or health of others may compromise patient careor public safety. Take appropriate action if something goes wrong or if othersreport concerns to you. • Co-operate with investigations into your or another healthcare professional’sfitness to practise and abide by undertakings you give or any restrictionsplaced on your practice.