Hanlon T R, Weiss M C, Rees J
University of Bristol.
J Med Ethics. 2000 Oct;26(5):363-9. doi: 10.1136/jme.26.5.363.
To explore British community pharmacists' views on PAS, including professional responsibility, personal beliefs, changes in law and ethical guidance.
Postal questionnaire.
Great Britain.
A random sample of 320 registered full-time community pharmacists.
The survey yielded a response rate of 56%. The results showed that 70% of pharmacists agreed that it was a patient's right to choose to die, with 57% and 45% agreeing that it was the patient's right to involve his/her doctor in the process and to use prescription medicines, respectively. Forty-nine per cent said that they would knowingly dispense a prescription for use in PAS were it to be legalized and 54% believed it correct to refuse to dispense such a prescription. Although 53% believed it to be their right to know when they were being involved in PAS, 28% did not. Most pharmacists (90%) said that they would wish to see the inclusion of a practice protocol for PAS in the code of ethics of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (CE-RPSGB) in the event of a change in the law on PAS. In addition, 89% would wish to see PAS included in the Conscience Clause of the CE-RPSGB. Males were found to be significantly less likely to favour PAS than females (p < 0.05), as were those declaring an ethnic/religious background of consideration when dealing with ethical issues in practice compared with their counterparts (p < 0.00005).
Pharmacists view their professional responsibility in PAS to be more obligatory than a physician's, in having to provide the means for PAS. It is worrying that a proportion of the respondents prefer to remain in ignorance of the true purpose of a prescription for PAS; a finding at odds with current developments within the pharmaceutical profession. A practice protocol for PAS and an extension of the conscience clause should be considered in the event of PAS becoming legal. Such measures would allow the efficient provision of the pharmaceutical service whilst at the same respecting the personal beliefs of those who object to cooperating in the ending of a life.
探讨英国社区药剂师对医师协助自杀（PAS）的看法，包括职业责任、个人信仰、法律变化和道德指导。
邮寄问卷调查。
英国。
320名注册全职社区药剂师的随机样本。
调查的回复率为56%。结果显示，70%的药剂师同意患者有权选择死亡，分别有57%和45%的药剂师同意患者有权让其医生参与这一过程以及使用处方药。49%的药剂师表示，如果PAS合法化，他们会在知情的情况下为其调配处方，54%的药剂师认为拒绝调配此类处方是正确的。虽然53%的药剂师认为当他们参与PAS时有权知晓，但28%的药剂师并不这样认为。大多数药剂师（90%）表示，如果PAS法律发生变化，他们希望在英国皇家药学会（RPSGB）的道德准则（CE - RPSGB）中纳入PAS的操作规范。此外，89%的人希望在CE - RPSGB的良心条款中纳入PAS。研究发现，男性比女性更不太可能支持PAS（p < 0.05），与同行相比，那些在实践中处理道德问题时声明有民族/宗教背景考量的人也是如此（p < 0.00005）。
药剂师认为他们在PAS中的职业责任比医生更具强制性，因为必须提供PAS的手段。令人担忧的是，一部分受访者更愿意对PAS处方的真正目的不知情；这一发现与制药行业目前的发展情况不一致。如果PAS合法化，应考虑制定PAS的操作规范并扩大良心条款。这些措施将允许在有效提供药学服务的同时，尊重那些反对协助结束生命的人的个人信仰。
