Reviewer: Jennifer L. Colon, PharmD, MS, MBA (Temple University School of Pharmacy)
Description: This book details the various ethical codes, values, and dilemmas relevant to the practice of pharmacy. Each chapter focuses on a specific area of pharmacy ethics, discussing the topic, detailing ethical situations or cases, and closing with remarks tying the information together concisely.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a model for examining and resolving ethical dilemmas. The book is designed to help students understand the ethical decision making process and to show them how the general ethical principles in the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists can be applied to resolve the ethical challenges they will encounter in professional practice. This area of pharmacy, and healthcare in general, is open to interpretation. This book can easily be used as a reference or teaching tool to assist with dealing with ethical dilemmas.
Audience: It is intended specifically to help student pharmacists understand the ethical decision making process and to show how the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists can be applied in professional practice. This is a valuable resource for pharmacy students, residents, and practitioners. Both authors are experts in the field of pharmacy ethics and have published numerous works related to this field.
Features: This book lays the groundwork in the beginning chapters by thoroughly explaining the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, its development, the foundation of ethical decision making, and analysis. The book builds on this foundation by discussing communication and relationships with patients and colleagues, ethics related to drug distribution, and ethical issues in contemporary practice as well as emerging concerns for pharmacy practice. This book covers the development of a code of ethics very well. I appreciated the final chapters on ethical issues in contemporary practice and emerging concerns for pharmacy practice. These areas address current dilemmas and the need for information regarding new areas of ethics. The situation and case scenarios are excellent and highlight realistic dilemmas that occur in pharmacy practice on a regular basis. The book does not provide a definitive answer to dilemmas, as many of these issues are open to discussion, interpretation, and personal beliefs. The glossary thoroughly explains terminology the reader may be unfamiliar with in a clear, concise manner. While the book is well written and concise, there is some redundancy, with information from early chapters repeated in later chapters.
Assessment: This is a valuable book for pharmacy students, residents, and practitioners with an interest in or questions regarding pharmacy ethics. It can be used as the basis of an entire class for pharmacy students, or as a supplementary read or reference. There are few up-to-date, concise, well-written books on pharmacy ethics, making this one that much more valuable to the profession.
