Co-operation with Inquiries a Requirement In Updated Code of Ethics - Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 13 Apr 2005 - 15:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

At its meeting on Wednesday 6 April 2005 the Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain agreed changes to the pharmacists' and pharmacy technicians' Codes of Ethics. It was agreed that a new section (A4 Co-operation with Inquiries into Fitness to Practise) will be inserted into Part 2A of both Codes. The new section will contain a requirement that pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians co-operate with any investigation or inquiry into their or another health professional's fitness to practise.

The updated pharmacists' Code of Ethics will also require that pharmacists abide fully with any undertaking they have given to the Statutory Committee and make clear that any breach of an undertaking could form the basis of a complaint of professional misconduct. As the RPSGB does not currently have a Health Committee, concerns about a pharmacist's fitness to practise for reasons of ill health may be referred to the Statutory Committee.

Where appropriate, the Statutory Committee may adopt a rehabilitative approach to these cases provided the registrant abides by certain undertakings offered to the Committee. The undertaking might involve the registrant agreeing to restrict their practice or receive treatment prior to returning to practise.

Presently these undertakings can only be adopted on a voluntary basis. The change to the pharmacists' Code of Ethics will strengthen the undertakings procedure and help to protect pharmacists and the public until the RPSGB has the authority to form a Health Committee. The authority to form a Health Committee will be included in the proposed Section 60 Order.

The Health Committee will have the power to impose conditions on a pharmacist's or pharmacy technicians' practise. Once a Health Committee is formed, the requirement to abide by undertakings given to the Statutory Committee will no longer be needed and will cease to form part of the pharmacists' Code of Ethics.

A similar requirement has not been inserted in the pharmacy technicians' Code of Ethics because the Statutory Committee has no authority to consider cases involving a pharmacy technician who has registered with the RPSGB on a voluntary basis and alternative processes have been put in place.

Lynsey Balmer, the Society's Head of Professional Ethics, said: "These changes demonstrate the importance that the Society places on pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians co-operating with investigations/inquiries by the Society, or any other inspecting body and provide a clear requirement that pharmacists abide by any undertakings given to the Statutory Committee."

If asked to co-operate with an investigation or inquiry, a pharmacist or pharmacy technician is not precluded from firstly obtaining legal guidance and/or contacting their indemnity insurer.

Changes to the pharmacists' Code of Ethics

Insertion of a new section to Part 2A (Professional responsibilities)

A.4. Co-operation with Inquiries into Fitness to Practise

(a) Pharmacists must co-operate fully with any investigation or formal inquiry by a committee into their or another pharmacist's, pharmacy technician's or other health care professional's fitness to practise.

(b) Where pharmacists have given a signed undertaking to the Statutory Committee they must abide fully with the terms and spirit of that undertaking.

(c) A breach of any signed undertaking given by a pharmacist to the Statutory Committee could form the basis of a complaint of professional misconduct.

Changes to pharmacy technicians' Code of Ethics

Insertion of a new section to Part 2A (Professional responsibilities)

A.4. Co-operation with Inquiries into Fitness to Practise

(a) Pharmacy technicians must co-operate fully with any investigation or formal inquiry by a committee into their or another pharmacist's, pharmacy technician's or other health care professional's fitness to practise.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
1 Lambeth High Street
London SE1 7JN
Tel 020 7735 9141
Fax 020 7735 7629
http://www.rpsgb.org

• Additional
• References
• Citations