Examining the Attitudes and Beliefs of California Pharmacists Toward Dispensing Medications Intended to be Lethal

Objective:This study examined California pharmacists' attitudes and beliefs toward dispensing medications intended to be lethal.Method:A two-page survey instrument was administered in person and by mail to California-licensed pharmacists in 2016. The survey collected information on demographic characteristics (n=6 items), pharmacists' attitude toward their role in the End of Life Option Act (ELOA, n=16 items), knowledge of the Act (n=4 items), and one comment section. Pharmacists rated their attitudes on a five-point bipolar Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5).Results:A total of 63 pharmacists responded, most of whom were male (n=32, 51%), considered themselves religious (n=41, 65.1%), and had an average age of 40.1 (SD=13.0) years. Only 30 (47.6%) respondents were willing to personally dispense a lethal dose of medication requested by a terminally ill patient with a valid prescription, while most agreed that they had the right to refuse to dispense a prescription intended to be lethal (n=56, 88.9%). Only 16 (25.4%) pharmacists reported having adequate knowledge to dispense and counsel on an ELOA drug. Most pharmacists called for more training on how to dispense and counsel patients about these lethal medications (n=54, 85.7%). Pharmacists' beliefs differed by whether they were religious or not (p<0.05).Conclusion:Fewer than half of the pharmacists were willing to personally dispense a lethal dose of medication requested by a terminally ill patient with a valid prescription. California pharmacists do not have adequate knowledge concerning the End of Life Act. Further research on pharmacists' attitudes and beliefs is needed.