Table of Contents
The code of ethics for pharmacists requires that a pharmacist “respects the autonomy and dignity of each patient.” Thomas Anselm fails to provide the patient with the opportunity to decide on her health. In this case, Anselm fails to respect the patient’s autonomy to make her own decision on the use of contraceptives. However, respecting the patient’s freedom means that the pharmacist goes against his religious beliefs. This presents an ethical dilemma on whether to lean towards respecting the patient’s autonomy or stick to his religious beliefs.
Apart from respecting the autonomy and dignity of the patient, it is vital that a pharmacist avoids biased practices that may damage their professional judgment, which might affect the best interests of a patient. Despite being honest and truthful, Anselm engages in work practices that hurt his expert opinion. Further, Anselm fails to refer Ms. Gaunilon to an alternative pharmacist who can help fill her prescription. A pharmacist should always place the well-being of their patient at the center of their professional practice. There are many uses of birth control, and Anselm does not know or inquire why the patient requires the prescription. He declines her request without much care or compassion. Through this, Anselm fails to respect the general association between him and his patient’s welfare and trust.
Analysis
Options
Stakeholders – Avoid mixing personal religious beliefs and professional practice. Referral to another willing pharmacists within reach. Fail to dispense the prescription Resign.
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Patient
Patient gets his prescription on time. Patient gets his prescription Patient’s health, autonomy, self-respect is affected. Patient gets his prescription, although delayed.
Pharmacists
The pharmacist may feel as if he is going against his religious beliefs if he is encouraged to abandon them in the place of his job. Referral to another pharmacist may still affect his religious beliefs because he becomes a part of a process he does not agree to. Keeps his faith intact, and fails to follow AMA ethical conduct. Loses his job but gets an opportunity to work in a pharmacy that is in line with his belief.
Pharmacy Management
Management plays an important part in the hiring process. It would be vital to employ an individual whose personal beliefs do not mix with professional practice. The pharmacy may lose a customer because of a referral, especially if the next pharmacy is far. The patient may decide to file a lawsuit if no solution is found.
This option provides an opportunity for management to hire a new pharmacist who has the same beliefs.
Anti-abortion pharmacists Discourage separation of personal beliefs from professional practice because that means going against their core principles. Discourage any referrals to other pharmacists because it still encourages abortion, even though indirectly. Propose a law that protects pharmacists who refuse to fill prescription contraceptive drugs. Further propose laws that will discourage pharmacies and their managements from giving their employees an option of resigning or adhering to the laws.
Reproductive rights groups Encourage a separation of professional practice and personal beliefs. Discourage referrals because time is a key factor in the productive life of a woman. Propose punishment for pharmacists who fail to fill prescriptions for women. Lobby for resigning for people who insist on infringing on women’s productive rights.
Application
The Categorical Imperative of Universality asserts that “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” According to this principle, an action is wrong if it cannot be seen as a universal law. The principle concludes that an act is wrong if it violates a law that everyone would agree to.
The first option is to avoid mixing personal religious beliefs and professional practice. Separation of own (religious) beliefs and professional practice is an act that will encourage tolerance among individuals. Serving a person disregarding their views should be embraced. Most health professionals take care of individuals from different cultures and religions on a daily basis, and that should also be encouraged for pharmacists.
The second option is the referral to another willing pharmacist within reach of the customer. Universally, if a person is against something, they may choose not to offer the service and refer the individual to other areas.
The third option is total failure to give the prescription. Failing to help someone because you have different beliefs cannot be universal. Everybody is different, and we all need one another. Failing to support an individual because of different faiths cannot be translated into universal law.
The final option is resigning. The pharmacist could choose to resign from his current job. Depending on the level of his faith in birth control, it would be vital for him to quit if he cannot alter his beliefs for professional practice.
Decision-Making
The best and the most moral decision for Anselm is to resign. Anselm not only refused to fill Ms. Gaunilon prescription, but he also failed to refer her to another pharmacist. This could be an indication that he cannot interfere with his faith in disregarding the situation. Resigning from this current job gives him an opportunity to find work at another pharmacy that aligns with his beliefs. Alternatively, he could start his pharmacy where he will follow the guidelines issued by the American Pharmacists Association. Further, resigning provides an opportunity for the pharmacy management to find a more appropriate pharmacist who will serve all the patients by disregarding his religious views.
Evaluation
Religious beliefs are part of an individual’s identity, and it is difficult to ask a person to leave their beliefs at home. An individual should not have to give up their position because their beliefs conflict with the people they serve. If workers are to be allowed to bring their religious beliefs to work, why should another individual seeking services not be granted the same? A person should not let personal beliefs to interfere with their job that they swore to do without any discrimination.
Another counter-argument that can be brought up against the choice is that resigning is not in the best interest of the pharmacist because he has a passion for it. Lawyers always make a choice of whom to represent and who not to. However, in the current situation, the individual agreed to serve the individuals and even signed a contract. He should not have signed the contract as he understood what working in a pharmacy entails. The patient should not have to shoulder the burden of a pharmacist’s beliefs.
Reflection
Understanding the most principles was an easy step. However, the application of the principles presented me with a challenge. Analyzing the various options available to the pharmacist was also quite challenging. However, during the analyzing process, I gained insight into the different options available to pharmacists and how best to utilize them.
