Duties and Responsibilities of a Pharmacist toward a Patient

The Role of Health Professional
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The Role of Health Professional
Duties and Responsibilities of a Pharmacist toward a Patient
In order for pharmacists to help enhance the healthcare of all people, they are charged with several duties and responsibilities toward patients. The first one is to ensure that their patients achieve the best or get the best from the medications they receive. To achieve this feat, they must build and maintain the trust of their patients (APhA, 2021). Secondly, pharmacists are also charged with the promotion of the well-being of all patients (APhA, 2021). Pharmacists must ensure that they respond to the needs of patients confidentially. They must not disclose to other people any personal information shared by their patients. Pharmacists must also ensure that they respect their patients and their independence (APhA, 2021). Pharmacists must ensure that they communicate with their patients and respect their autonomy throughout their interaction with them.
It is also crucial to note that pharmacists have to ensure that they are enhancing their professional competence (APhA, 2021). This is indeed a duty and responsibility owed to the patients because they should be given the best every time they visit their pharmacist. Therefore, the pharmacist’s work is to ensure that they are well aware of the new technologies and medications that can help their patients. Lastly, a pharmacist needs to know that they serve the needs of the individual, the community, and society. Therefore, they should give their best at all times and ensure their patients get the best.
Details of the assigned case. The pharmacist did not perform the required duties and uphold patient rights
In the case under study, a physician whose conduct was questionable and under investigation issued prescriptions that were later discovered to not be for a legitimate medical purpose (Jeffrey, 2016). Under the physician’s request, the pharmacy issued the drugs to patients only to discover that the physician was flagged for possible drug diversion. The pharmacy insisted that they did their due diligence by calling and inquiring about the prescriptions from the physician’s office. However, the DEA claimed that the pharmacy failed to “exercise their corresponding responsibility, along with the physician” to ensure that whatever prescription they are issuing is indeed legitimately for medical purposes (Jeffrey, 2016).
Upon assessing the case at hand, the pharmacy did not perform the required duties and uphold patients’ rights. One of the duties and responsibilities of pharmacists is to ensure that they value and respect other colleagues’ abilities within the healthcare sector. A pharmacist should know that, at times, healthcare professionals differ in their assessment of patients. These differences should not in any way interfere with the care that patients receive. Therefore, the pharmacists ought to have honored their covenantal relationships with their patients and ensured that they are getting the best care from the medications they issue.
The pharmacy at fault
Yes, the pharmacy is at fault. From the duties and responsibilities of pharmacists, it is clear that a ...