I just wanted to know about the rights of a basic hospital pharmacist in terms of ethics. What if a pharmacist refused to take part in for example providing drug treatment to a patient who needs to have an abortion done due to some reason. The pharmacis feels that assisting in such services will be against his/her concious/relegious beliefs. How much rights does that pharmacy have. What can he/she do in that situation?
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The RPSGB Code of Ethics
The RPSGB Code of Ethics requires pharmacists to make the care of their patients their first concern and to show respect for others. However, as with other healthcare professional regulators, the RPSGB recognises that a pharmacist's beliefs or personal convictions may prevent them from providing a particular professional service (for example abortifacients). In such circumstances the RPSGB Code of Ethics requires that a pharmacist must inform the relevant persons or authorities of this and ensure that patients are referred to alternative providers for the service they require.
While the Code of Ethics and Standards does not require a pharmacist to provide a service that is contrary to their religious or moral beliefs, any attempt by a pharmacist to impose their beliefs on a member of the public seeking their professional guidance, or a failure to have systems in place to advise of alternative sources for the service required, would be of great concern to the RPSGB and could form the basis of a complaint of professional misconduct.
RPSGB Head of Professional Ethics