From Mr H. Patel, FRPharmS
SIR,—I read, with interest, Sydney Holloway’s article on core values
in pharmacy (PJ, August 26, p308).
There are three key issues that should be kept in mind while considering the
complex arguments put forward in the article.
First, at a time when the very existence of self-regulating professions is being
questioned and the relationship between the National Health Service and patients
re-negotiated, pharmacy has to examine and debate the basis of its contract
with society. For community pharmacists, whose professional position is often
unclear to external observers because of the unique commercial environment in
which they practise, it is crucial to demonstrate that clinical decisions are
based on strong ethical principles.
Secondly, pharmacists, who share responsibility for decisions on behalf of populations
as well as for individual patients, need to place their clinical and scientific
knowledge in a wider moral and ethical decision making context. The notion that
“science is a superior form of knowledge than philosophy and produces solutions
instead of interminable discussions” is, in this wider professional and
policy context, not acceptable.
Thirdly, as the Government systematically sets about dismantling traditional
professional boundaries we need to establish common ethical ground with other
professions, highlighting and supporting pharmacists’ unique perspectives.
As the medical profession embarks on a similar exercise to re-examine its core
values and relationships with society, should we not be seeking to build bridges?
I trust that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s core values paper will
be judged on its own merits. Copies of the paper can be obtained through the
Society’s website (www.rpsgb.org.uk)
or from Kerry Crabb at the Society (tel 020 7735 9141 ext 384).
Hemant Patel
Chairman, Core Values Working Party
Royal Pharmaceutical Society