Ramadan and medication compliance in the muslim fasting patient

[shan]

but isn't that what signposting is all about?? surely by doing this you're not negatively impacting on a patients care..the patient is sstill able to go and get the EHC or whatever it is the pharmacist is refusing to dispense

Well, if you keep sending the patient to elsewhere, then what is the use of having a local pharmacy ??? Then why should we have entry regulations for other pharmacies to open ??? If you cannot serve a patient, unless stock problem/ special cases like the swine flu pandemic, you should not be allowed to practice or have an alternative arrangement within the pharmacy to prevent patient running around to get what he/she is legally entitled to. Just imagine a patient being sent from one pharmacy to another just because, their bad luck, wherever they go the pharmacist incharge morally does not support that option Has anyone thought about this ??? Just by saying signposting, you are shrugging away the responsibilty and the basic principle of our profession "MAKE PATIENT CARE YOUR MAIN PURPOSE" Any thoughts ????

Shan

[crit care]

well the RPSGB supports signposting, having not really worked in community i haven't really had to signpost anyone, and i don't think i would need to use if if i was in community

but

for someone who may want to signpost, i can't think why they should compromise their beliefs when they know the patient can get it from elsewhere and no harm caused. Yes it is unfair to get the patient bouncing between shops, if i was in that place, i don't think i love my job that much, that i would compromise my beliefs to prevent the patient from walking down the road to the next pharmacy

but i'm just playing devils advocate...2 sides to every scenario!

[shan]

That's why I always believed that our society has stipulated many rules that contradict their own, some other rule. People over there are more like headless chickens than some one with real sense of improving our profession. All they know is being in power means make rules on every opportunity to curb some one elses freedom/ power. I am not saying this just out of blue, I have had many such instances where in when I questioned the rational behind such a rule (some of them repeated) all I got in reply was it is a rule and they will simply follow it. I never got even a single reply which made sense.

My recent experience, they have asked for a good standing letter from the council from my country because I am a overseas pharmacist. I had already submitted such a letter before starting my OSPAP, so I requested the letter still stands valid as there is no change in my circumstances (as told by the council in my country) All they said was no way you have to get a letter. When asked why ?? It is a rule and as they dont know what I was doing for the past 2 years I need to get a letter. What a stupidity !!!!! They have allowed me to do OSPAP, I have passed and submitted the OSPAP certificate before starting my Pre-reg and successfully completed the pre-reg year and passed the exam. Don't they have all the records showing what I was doing for the past 2 years ???? Now tell me how competent/ logical these people are ??? What will happen once I register with them ??? what value will the good standing certificate will have (for which I had to spend considerable amount and still waiting) Why would somebody register with a council in a country they belong to if they do not want to practice there ??? Stupi stupid and nothing but stupid and they call themselves educated

Shan

[weeneldo]

Because the patient should be able to get the care they need without someone else making moral decisions on their behalf.

What if its a rural pharmacy and the only one for miles? What if the patient doesn't have a car and can't get to another pharmacy? What if the patient doesn't have time to go to another pharmacy? What if the next nearest pharmacy also has a pharmacist who refuses to supply? Imagine you're the pharmacist at Glastonbury or Glasgow Airport or the police requisition it for a rape victim. There's too many situations when the result of not supplying it could prevent the patient from getting the care they need. As I said before, is it ok for a vegetarian to refuse to supply capsules that contain gelatin or to refuse to supply porcine insulin? How far are we going to take it? What if I decide that I believe all modern medicine is evil. Will it still be OK for me to practice as a pharmacist?

If your religion prevents you from doing your job - providing the best possible medical care you can - you can't do your job properly and shouldn't be a pharmacist.

[bobbin]

My issue is this....

Pharmacists have a ethical responsibility to ensure that they arrive at work in a position to accurately assess and check a large number of prescriptions for many hours in a row. Dehydration and low blood sugar can clearly affect concentration and cognitive capabilities. Personally, I would probably be better able to check a prescription after a large glass of wine than after many hours with no food or water. Consumption of alcohol at work is not acceptable because it impairs performance. Similarly, failure to maintain an adequate fluid intake during hot weather should not be considered acceptable.

I do not think that it is safe or ethical to be fasting whilst performing a job where an error could harm, seriously injure or even kill a person. This includes nurses, pharmacists, doctors/surgeons etc. Some time ago, I saw a young pharmacist with his head in his hands during Ramadan. He was feeling very unwell but continued to check scripts, including CDs and insulin.

If a pharmacist chooses to fast, they should seriously consider the welfare of their customers/patients. What if someone was harmed due to a dispensing error? In some cases, Ramadan might be a suitable time to take annual leave.

This is an important issue which is highly relevent to community pharmacy.

[hibernia]

Some time ago, I saw a young pharmacist with his head in his hands during Ramadan. He was feeling very unwell but continued to check scripts, including CDs and insulin.
.

Everybody knows they shouldn't work when they aren't feeling well but I'd say there aren't many of us who haven't done it at one time or another.
If the choice is continue to work or leave patients without any service what do you do?

[Fleegle]

If your religion prevents you from doing your job - providing the best possible medical care you can - you can't do your job properly and shouldn't be a pharmacist.

Have to agree with that...If they need it, they get it. Condoms, Oral contraception, pig insulin, whatever. I also eat cow, pig, chicken, rabbit, goose, fish, deer, duck, prawns, sheep, pheasant, grouse, quail, partridge, hare and kangaroo. Anyone with a problem with that should give up the game..you're clearly either not suited for it, or you're in the wrong place.

Fleeg.

[DavidS]

Just by saying signposting, you are shrugging away the responsibilty and the basic principle of our profession "MAKE PATIENT CARE YOUR MAIN PURPOSE" Any thoughts ????

The thing about religion is that when the pharmacist refuses to supply EHC, he or she really does believe that they ARE acting in the patients' best interests. It is very difficult to argue with this whilst showing respect for the other persons' religion and culture..

Have to agree with that...If they need it, they get it. Condoms, Oral contraception, pig insulin, whatever. I also eat cow, pig, chicken, rabbit, goose, fish, deer, duck, prawns, sheep, pheasant, grouse, quail, partridge, hare and kangaroo. Anyone with a problem with that should give up the game..you're clearly either not suited for it, or you're in the wrong place.Fleeg.

I am a vegetarian, and rarely eat condoms, either, lol. But I have no objection to supplying those less insightful than myself with the poison of their choice

[enzotabletcounter]

ENZO'S FACT OF THE DAY

Did you know...most condoms are not vegan. The production of latex used in condoms uses casein, a protein derived from milk. Vegan condoms are available; they use cocoa powder instead of the milk protein.



On an unrelated note, check out these. Sex and sunday dinner in one!

[bobbin]

Everybody knows they shouldn't work when they aren't feeling well but I'd say there aren't many of us who haven't done it at one time or another.

Absolutely, but not everyday for a month!