This document outlines a framework for ethical analysis and decision-making in pharmacy practice. It discusses using ethical principles and frameworks to guide decision making by highlighting important aspects of each situation. Ethical decisions involve considering multiple perspectives and balancing various issues as there are rarely black and white solutions. The framework presented involves 4 steps: 1) identifying the problem, 2) considering alternative courses of action, 3) selecting one action, and 4) considering any objections to the selected action. Key aspects of each step, such as identifying relevant values and principles, are also described. The document also provides background on professional ethics and characteristics of professions.

1. Ch 3. Framework for Ethical Analysis and
Ch 4: Professional Ethics
Instructor’s Name: Berhanemeskel W/Gerima
Email: aberhaneth@gmail.com
Cell Phone: +251912024213
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Introduction to Pharmacy Law & Ethics
(Phar 4173)

2. Outline
3.1. Background
3.2. Ethical Analysis and Decision-Making
3.2. A Framework for Decision-Making in Pharmacy Practice
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3. 3.1. Background
• Ethical principles are often combined in ethical frameworks which
provide support and guidance for ethical decision making by enabling
– the important aspects of the situation to be highlighted and evaluated.
• Making ethical decisions is not a solitary activity particularly
– where decisions have an impact on others.
• Quality patient care relies on a team approach
– that supports the decision-making of the patient in a professional partnership
– where their views, wishes and values are respected and acknowledged.
• Ethical decisions are rarely black and white and the healthcare
team often need to
– discuss and balance the issues to reach a decision about the best option
in individual situations.
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4. 3.2. Ethical Analysis and Decision-Making
• Complex, structured, individualized process
• Involves analysis of each individual unique issue
• Through ethical reasoning, pharmacist need to
– choose their rational course of action (from many), justify and defend it
• Reflective ethical analysis to resolve ethical conflict will help
– pharmacy become what the practice of pharmaceutical care proposes: an
ethical practice based on an ethical mandate
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5. 3.2. Ethical Analysis and Decision-Making
• Gather all relevant information
• Identify the real problem
• Analyze and weigh options
• Choose the best solution (risk-benefit)
• Be ready to justify the chosen course of action
• Evaluate
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6. 3.3. A Framework for Decision-Making in Pharmacy Practice
• It is applied for health care professionals to determine the ethical
course of action to follow in a given situation.
• Process that help pharmacists make ethics-related decisions
• Steps based on objectivity and critical thinking
• 4-step problem-solving process:
1. Identify the problem
2. Consider alternative courses of action
3. Select one action
4. Consider objections to the selected course of action
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7. 1. Identify the problem
Clearly identify the real problem through 4 steps:
1. Identify technical facts:
• who is involved?
• How would a decision affect each party?
2. Identify moral dilemmas: analyze conflicting ethical issues, rights,
values, and virtues involved and could be violated or supported. Identify your
own personal bias, morality, religious beliefs which can cloud your decision
3. Identify legal constraints: does regulations support possible course of
action? Balance between law and morality. Not every dilemma can be sorted
out by law
4. Identify relevant human values: most important step; knowledge of
human values involved and acting accordingly may result in better judgment
and much more defensible ethical decision, consider: what extent do personal
beliefs bias actions?
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8. 2. Develop Alternative Courses of Action
• List ALL possible course of actions
• Avoid ruling-out by instinct
• An action chosen from many represents an informed decision,
not a rushed conclusion
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9. 2. Develop Alternative Courses of Action
This step involves:
1. Identifying relevant ethical principles for each alternative:
– All ethical issues attached with each alternative
– This will reveal competing ethical values and solutions
2. Recognizing ethical assumptions for each alternative:
– Ethical principles we base the alternative action upon
3. Determining additional ethical problems:
– Consider OTHER possible ethical issues emerging from the course of action
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10. 3. Select the One Alternative Course of Action
• Now, from all the possible choices, select one course of action
1. Justify the selection:
– Ask yourself: why did I choose this action?
– Consider ethical principles involved:
• Virtues maintained,
• Rights protected
2. Defend your selection upon ethical ground:
– When faced by competing moral values,
• Be ready to explain why you have chosen one of them
• Must has moral foundation that overweighs the other option
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11. 4. Consider Objections to the Selected Action
• Anticipate objections on what action you have taken
• Decisions based on ethical values always get challenged through objections
related to:
1. Factual errors: being detailed and fact-oriented will eliminate this
possibility
2. Faulty reasoning: must have relevant AND sufficiently convincing
• consider using standards, codes of ethics, religious beliefs
3. Conflicting values: others may have different value systems and can
justify, articulate, and defend them
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12. 4. Consider Objections to the Selected Action
• Thoroughly examine the reasons in favor of and opposed to each course of
action, considering relevant
– Ethical theories, principles, and guidelines
– Codes of ethics and legal principles
– Pharmacy practice theory and principles
– Client’s values (including religious, cultural and ethnic values, and political
ideology), particularly those that conflict with one’s own
– Personal values
• Consult with colleagues and appropriate experts (such as agency staff,
supervisors, agency administrators, attorneys, ethics scholars)
• Make the decision and document the decision-making process
• Monitor, evaluate, and document the decision’s outcome
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13. 4. Professional Ethics
• A profession is a job that requires specific training and is regulated by
certain standards
• Professional ethics are the ethical norms, values, and principles that guide
a profession and the ethics of decisions made within the profession.
– Doctor
– Pharmacist
– Lawyer
– Accountant
• Professional ethics are often established by professional organizations to help
guide members in performing their job functions according to sound and
consistent ethical principles.
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14. 4. Professional ethics
• Common body of knowledge - study and
mastery of specialized knowledge
• Formal educational process - extensive
training
• Standards of entry - process of
certification or licensing.
• Recognition of public responsibility
• The Public Interest and integrity
• Objectivity and independence
• Due Care Scope and Nature of
Services
• Have Association
• Have Ethical code
Characteristics of a Profession
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15. 4. Professional ethics
• Pharmacy ethics is a branch of medical ethics that provides a framework for
pharmacists to use in resolving questions about what ought to be done in
pharmacy practice.
• Professions each hold to
– A specific code of ethics, and
– Members are almost universally required to swear some form of oath to uphold those ethics.
• Types of professional ethics Statements
1. Prayers: State a very personal commitment of duty
2. Oaths: Publicly pledge the oath taker to uphold specified responsibilities
3. Codes: Ethical guidelines for members of a profession
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