The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 266 No 7149 p718-722
May 26, 2001

  RPM
  Packaging
  Disillusioned youth
  GlaxoSmithKline
  Interactions
  Travel medicine
  Seprate register
  Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics

Not trying to hide anything

From Miss H. Shaw, MRPharmS

I find Bill Darling's response to 'a concerned pharmacist' (PJ, May 19, p675) badly thought out. Among other things he states it essential that pharmacists are “up front about what they can or cannot do”. When applying for a job you do not go around telling your prospective employer what you are unable to do — you convince him/her that you are the best person for the job. That is not deceiving the employer, that is merely convincing that person of what you are capable.

He equates conscientious objection with what one “will or will not do” making it sound as though one is trying to dictate conditions at an interview rather than indicating a right accepted by the other medical professions. This is not an issue of trying to hide anything. In my experience employers have been influenced positively and negatively by my conscientious objection. I also have the experience that when people see how you work they take a different attitude to conscientious objection, balancing it against your true worth.

Helen Shaw
Glasgow

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