From Mrs S. E. Sharpe, and Ms H. Darracott, MRPharmS
SIR,-The appointment of a professor of law and ethics at Nottingham university is a great step forward (PJ, July 8, p40).
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, at its annual general meeting in May (PJ, May 20, p757), adopted revisions to the Code of Ethics that include three key responsibilities of pharmacists and an introduction about professional judgment and ethical dilemmas.
These marked a departure from the rule book approach, and a full revision of the Code of Ethics is planned for submission to the annual general meeting next year.
This will need a new approach to the teaching of ethics to future pharmacists. Sound professional decision making will become critical as pharmacists develop more challenging roles in health care, and we hope that this will be reflected by further chairs in ethics at other schools of pharmacy.
Sue Sharpe
Director of Professional Standards
Helen Darracott
Head of Professional Ethics
Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1