Oral+Presentation+Case+11

= Oral Presentation Case 11 =

//The sale of complementary medicines constitutes a large part of pharmacy practice, with many national and international companies making considerable profits from the manufacture and sale of herbal and ‘natural’ products. Consumers demand access to these products, many of which do not have any substantial evidence for their therapeutic use. As a pharmacist working in a community practice, you will be responsible for the sale of these products. What are the ethical considerations regarding the supply of complementary medicines to the public?//

Background
For most of the complementary medications, there are usually insufficient clinical studies done on it or usage of the medication does not prove any benefit at all. An example would be Echinacea. It is used traditionally for treatment or prevention of colds, flu, and other infections. Clinical studies had shown that by using Echinacea, it does not shorten or prevent colds and flu.  For example, a customer walks in to ask for Blackmore’s Weight – loss Accelerate. For this product, there is insufficient information that confirms usage of it will lead to reduction in weight. However, it may exert a placebo effect and the customer may be more motivated to lose weight by diet and exercise  This means that as a pharmacist, it is my duty to provide sufficient information to the client in order to assist the client to make his or her decision. However, the health and well being of the client is also my primary concern (principle one of code of professional conduct).


 patient - autonomy, placebo effects, cost, risk of drug interaction and adverse effects pharmacist - profit, professional reputation, patient wellbeing, evidenced based medicine (QUM)


 possible decision - still sell the products, but provide reliable, accurate, up to date evidence based information to patients regarding the complementary medicines.