Professional Regulation and Criminal Liability Pharmacists
Professional Regulation and Criminal Liability
July 16, 2015
HCS/430
Professional Regulation and Criminal Liability: Pharmacists
A profession is “an occupation based on the mastery of a complex body of knowledge and skills. It is a vocation in which the practice of an art is used in the services of others” (Schmitz & Martin, 2008, p. 1). Belonging to a certain profession requires one to agree to demonstrate integrity, selflessness, competency as well as morality. This becomes the foundation on which the medical profession gets autonomy of practice from the society and a chance to experience self-regulation. Pharmacy is one of the medical professions whose practitioners help people to utilize medications to the best. It is notable that since professionals own specialized knowledge which the client does not have, the possibility of the professional exploiting the client exists. It is however important to note that such exploitation leads to very severe consequences since it has violated the guiding regulations for pharmacists.
While executing the duties of a pharmacist, it is possible to make mistakes that have serious consequences. There are a number of ways in which professional misconduct among pharmacists can be handled. The Board of Pharmacy may take action against the pharmacists where a hearing is made before any disciplinary action is taken. The violation of regulations may also be presented before a civil court or before a criminal court. In case of a compliant being presented before a Board of Pharmacy, the complaint is usually presented by the customer before the Board prompting the Board of Pharmacy to launch investigations. The findings of the investigation are used to determine the disciplinary action to be taken, if any. Complaints that are handled by the Board of Pharmacy involve violation of the regulations governing the board and may not necessarily be linked to a patient. Civil lawsuit on the other hand primarily involves
July 16, 2015
HCS/430
Professional Regulation and Criminal Liability: Pharmacists
A profession is “an occupation based on the mastery of a complex body of knowledge and skills. It is a vocation in which the practice of an art is used in the services of others” (Schmitz & Martin, 2008, p. 1). Belonging to a certain profession requires one to agree to demonstrate integrity, selflessness, competency as well as morality. This becomes the foundation on which the medical profession gets autonomy of practice from the society and a chance to experience self-regulation. Pharmacy is one of the medical professions whose practitioners help people to utilize medications to the best. It is notable that since professionals own specialized knowledge which the client does not have, the possibility of the professional exploiting the client exists. It is however important to note that such exploitation leads to very severe consequences since it has violated the guiding regulations for pharmacists.
While executing the duties of a pharmacist, it is possible to make mistakes that have serious consequences. There are a number of ways in which professional misconduct among pharmacists can be handled. The Board of Pharmacy may take action against the pharmacists where a hearing is made before any disciplinary action is taken. The violation of regulations may also be presented before a civil court or before a criminal court. In case of a compliant being presented before a Board of Pharmacy, the complaint is usually presented by the customer before the Board prompting the Board of Pharmacy to launch investigations. The findings of the investigation are used to determine the disciplinary action to be taken, if any. Complaints that are handled by the Board of Pharmacy involve violation of the regulations governing the board and may not necessarily be linked to a patient. Civil lawsuit on the other hand primarily involves
References: Abood, R. (2005). Pharmacy practice and the law (4th ed.). Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett. Darvey, D. (2008). Legal Handbook for Pharmacy Technicians (1st ed.). Bethesda, Maryland: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Schmitz, P., & Martin, K. (2008). Internal medicine just the facts (1st ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.