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Letters to the Editor
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The register
Am I to be gagged by my professional body?
From Mrs A. R. Shaw, MRPharmS
In common with many employee community pharmacists, I had anticipated
retiring and then doing locum work, of which there is plenty in this
area. For family reasons, however, at the age of 65, I had a complete
break from pharmacy for some 18 months, after which I decided that it
was in the interest of patients that I should not return to work.
However, I could maintain my links with this profession by registering
as a non-practising pharmacist, albeit at an increased retention fee.
But now I am supposed to stifle any response, when I am questioned at
church or when stopped in the supermarket by an acquaintance about her
medication. If it is a simple query, within my competence to give advice,
what justification can the Council give to condemn my advice as unprofessional?
If it is a more complicated query, one to which my current level of knowledge
would preclude my giving an answer, then I would say so and guide her
to a better source of information.
But wait! Surely that is what I have been doing for the past 50 years.
If I did not know the answer, then I said so and looked for a suitable
source. Surely it is infinitely better, and — I do not need to
remind members of Council of the phrase — in the interests of the
patient, that he or she asks me, rather than that ubiquitous, uninformed “friend”.
And if I were to transgress, giving out-dated information to the possible
harm of the patient, bringing the profession into disrepute, then the
Society would have disciplinary powers over me, a member. Yet if I dissociate
myself from the profession, then I can legally make any response I like
and the profession would have no jurisdiction over me whatsoever. It
makes our profession a laughing stock.
Furthermore, I would ask what is the position of non-practising pharmacists
with respect to dissemination of pharmaceutical information in other
areas? I have been appointed to a primary care trust public and patient
involvement forum. Am I to be gagged by my professional body, because
I choose to stay on the register? Am I to be unable to speak on those
issues with which I am surely better acquainted than is a lay member?
I am willing to pay the increased retention fee for a non-practising
member. I am not willing to pay the full fee and maintain competence
to the nth degree while not engaged in any remunerated pharmacy position.
Ruth Shaw
Bolton,
Lancashire
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DAVID PRUCE, director of practice and quality improvement, Royal
Pharmaceutical Society, replies:
The definition of a non-practising
pharmacist is that
a non-practising pharmacist is a member who does not engage in pharmacy
practice, is not involved in patient care and does not work in or
give advice in relation to, the science of medicines or the practice
of pharmacy
or health care. Mrs Shaw’s relates to a situation where a non-practising
pharmacist is asked for advice by friends or family or in the course
of non-pharmacy activity such as a public and patient involvement forum.
Let me put it into context. I am a practising pharmacist and regularly
advise on the science of medicines and the practice of pharmacy and
health care but
I no longer have regular contact with patients. In certain areas of practice,
I have good, up-to-date knowledge and am quite competent to advise colleagues
and patients. However, I recognise that I am no longer competent to practise
outside my specialist area. I would need to undertake a return to practice
course before practising as a community or hospital pharmacist.
When asked a question by a relative or friend, I have to consider whether
I have the competence to answer before responding. I preface my answer with
the fact
that I am no longer regularly involved in patient care and I usually add
that if they are in any doubt, then they should ask their local community
pharmacist.
The situation that I find myself in now is analogous to that of a non-practising
pharmacist.
It is not the intention of the Society to prevent non-practising pharmacists
from expressing opinions or responding to occasional queries from families
and friends. The advice that we would give is that a non-practising pharmacist
who
is asked to advise family and friends or is participating in patient forums
in a lay capacity will still be bound by the obligations of the Society’s
Code of Ethics. The pharmacist will have to make it clear to the people they
are talking or writing to that they are non-practising and any advice given will
need to be within the pharmacist’s continued sphere of competence. |
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal