Open AccessEthics and pharmaceutical medicine – the full report of the Ethical Issues Committee of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK
Author(s) -
Bickerstaffe R.,
Brock P.,
Husson JM,
Rubin I.,
Bragman K.,
Paterson K.,
Sommerville A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2006.00804.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ethical issues , alternative medicine , pharmaceutical industry , public health , engineering ethics , medical education , family medicine , nursing , pharmacology , pathology , engineering
Summary The practice of pharmaceutical medicine brings with it ethical challenges and dilemmas often very different from those encountered in the practice of clinical medicine. Having established a framework of guiding ethical principles, this report aims to look in some detail at specific areas of possible ethical concern to pharmaceutical physicians, offering practical advice and guidance on good practice. The report covers issues related to pharmaceutical research, including dissemination of research findings, communication with other health professionals and patients and involvement of pharmaceutical physicians and companies in the provision of patient services. The primacy of the interests of patients and the wider public is emphasised, and the possible impact of new developments in pharmaceutical technology is explored. It is hoped that the report will help those working in pharmaceutical medicine and act as a stimulus for wider discussion and debate.