Dave's Case: The Pharmacy Student And The Pharmacist

In Dave’s case, the pharmacy student and the pharmacist have breached the GPhC standards and guidance, since their perspective breach consent and patient’s confidentiality. Anna, a pharmacy student who works in the pharmacy during the summer placement. She uses dispensary computer system to find out the information about Dave. This is breaching patient’s confidentiality while she is not a registered pharmacist in the local pharmacy. In the GPhC standards for pharmacy professionals, standard 7 states: “must respect and maintain a person’s confidentiality and privacy” (Royal pharmaceutical society, 2017, p135). The pharmacy professional needs to protect patient’s information during their pharmacy practice. As a pharmacy student, Anna should respect
Dave’s privacy and confidentiality. Patient information keeps in dispensary computer system is only used for the patient to receive better caring. In addition, Anna accesses the confidential information without pharmacists' consent that breach law. The confidential information discloses that required by law. In the GPhC guidance, a person or an organisation uses their power to ask about the person’s information from the pharmacist which is under the law. The pharmacist must disclose the information (Royal pharmaceutical society, 2017, p144). Anna is temporarily working in the local pharmacy. She has not had a reasonable and lawful right to use pharmacy system identifying the person. It does not comply with the circumstance in law.
Kelly is the locum pharmacist.
She is scared to speak to Dave because of his unkempt appearance and unpredictable behaviour. In the GPhC standard, standard 6: “pharmacy professionals must behave in a professional manner” (Royal pharmaceutical society, 2017, p135). Kelly’s behaviours are inappropriate because she does not use her professional manner to respect Dave. Kelly also notices Dave have irregular intervals in his medication. She could advise Dave taking his medication regularly which could relieve his epilepsy. Furthermore, Kelly needs to explain dosage instructions to Dave in detail to ensure he knows how to take medicine at right intervals. According to Dave’s health issues, Kelly does not use professional judgment to help Dave make a clinal decision. Patients have right to take part in their healthcare and obtain consent. Obtaining consent from patients would help pharmacist provide professional services, treatment, and care for patients (Royal pharmaceutical society, 2017, p146). In this case, reduce taking alcohol would help to manage Dave’s epilepsy. Kelly can provide relevant and clear information about the community alcohol misuse. It is also important for Dave to know about any benefits that he would gain from this service. Even though Dave might refuse to join this service, Kelly will need to respect Dave’s decision. However, Kelly would need to refer relevant healthcare professionals and her pharmacy colleagues and raise concern for Dave's health
issue.

References:
Royal pharmaceutical society. (2017) Medicines, Ethics and practice the professional guides for pharmacists. Edition 41, pp133-150