 The relation between the patient and the pharmacist
is covenant or promise ,and this professional covenant
is similar to a legal contract , in which each party
makes certain promises.
 In this case , the pharmacist agrees to provide
pharmaceutical care to the patient and the patient
agrees to provide payment and any needed
information to the pharmacist.
 Implicit in this covenant is the idea that the
pharmacist has certain moral obligations to the
patient, specially to provide quality
pharmaceutical care, that provision responsible on
improving patient well-being.
The moralistic basis of biomedical ethics
the APha code tend to take the position of
nonconsequentialists, which is based on the
following principles:
1. Autonomy : An action is right if it respects the
autonomy, or independent choice, of the others.
2. Veracity : telling the truth is right.
3. Fidelity: keeping promises, commitments,
contracts, and covenants is right.
4. Avoiding killing: Taking of human life is wrong.
5. Justice: fair distribution of goods and harms is right.
 The other major school of though, Consequentialist,
general considers an actions to be right when they
have beneficial outcomes for the people involved and
wrong if they have detrimental ‫ضار‬consequence.

Beneficence ‫االحسان‬: the principle that guides the
actions and behaviors of practitioners toward
beneficial patient outcomes.
 Non-malificence ‫عدم االيذاء‬: the principle that urges
practitioners to avoid actions and behaviors that might
bring harm to their patients.

These two principle is embodied ‫جسدت‬from the
Hippocratic oath:"As to disease , make habit of two
things –to help, or at least to do no harm."
 Utilitarianism is a theory in ethics holding that the
proper course of action is the one that maximizes
utility, specifically defined as maximizing happiness
and reducing suffering.
Ethical Framework
Nonconsequentialist:
 Autonomy
 Veracity
 Fidelity
 Justice
 Privacy/Confidentiality
Consequentialist:
 Utilitarianism
 Beneficence
 Nonmalificence
 It is difficult to maintain a separation between
beneficence and non-maleficence, because no
action or procedure is completely safe or
completely effective , thus the line can be blur
between doing good and not doing harm, for in
doing good one can inadvertently doing harm
 Medical ethics is derived from a combination of the




above elements, but the subject can be discussed by
looking at four principles that embody all of the above
concepts:
Respect for patient autonomy
Non-maleficence
Beneficence
justice
Code of Ethics for Pharmacists
PREAMBLE
 Pharmacists are health professionals who assist
individuals in making the best use of medications. This
Code, prepared and supported by pharmacists, is intended
to state publicly the principles that form the fundamental
basis of the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists.
 These principles, based on moral obligations and virtues,
are established to guide pharmacists in relationships with
patients, health professionals, and society.
I.
A pharmacist respects the covenantal
relationship between the patient and
pharmacist.
II. A pharmacist promotes the good of every patient
in a caring, compassionate, and confidential
manner.
III. A pharmacist respects the autonomy and dignity of each
patient.
IV. A pharmacist acts with honesty and integrity in professional
relationships.
V. A pharmacist maintains professional
competence.
VI. A pharmacist respects the values and abilities of
colleagues and other health professionals.
VII. A pharmacist serves individual, community,
and societal needs.
VIII. A pharmacist seeks justice in the distribution
of health resources.