Ethics is a multifaceted concept that entails a range of aspects from virtually any sphere of life. Any changes that take place in a daily life tend to be reflected in a person’s spiritual world, thereby transforming fundamental ethical values and moral standards. Apparently, the nature of ethics is largely based on moral foundations. Having sustained manifestations in society, ethical phenomenon appears to be an integral aspect of human life, which acts as the spiritual core along with its moral consistency. Modern conditions give rise to new challenges and threats, which require the mobilization of human efforts. Moral relations are based on diverse values that are subject to radical changes.
With regard to my educational background, the ethical perspective is inextricably related to my outlook on life. Having graduated high school, I attend college in order to become a pharmacy technician. Afterwards, I am planning to attend a university to get my doctors in pharmacy. It is vital to realize the significance of the moral factor in professional areas, especially where experts’ actions depend on the lives, health and safety of large number of people. Once ethical reasoning is developed in the practice of pharmacy, ethical behaviour becomes the fundamental framework. Principles that are based on accepted values encompass democracy, personal autonomy as well as solidarity (Dessing 10).
Unequal access to the health care system is an acute ethical issue that appears to be extremely urgent. In the light of ethics, pharmaceutical care entails proper communication and information about the use of medicines, monitoring the patient's medication together with prevention of viable adverse effects (Dessing 11). Ethical decision making is closely connected to the patient-centered relationship. A good pharmacist should be perfectly familiar with ethical principles in order to be competent to conduct a professional judgment. It should be noted that he high level of ethical reasoning is connected with an array of ethical principles such as justice and autonomy as well as patients confidentiality.
Prejudice is something that interferes in an adequate perception of reality and hinders communication along with understanding of the people and ethnic groups. Bias is a state of consciousness in which the incoming information is blocked by rigidly fixed emotions. Ethnic prejudices serve as the vivid illustration of the essential features of biases in general. Representation of biases in public and individual consciousness shapes the ethical perspective. Ethnic prejudices are the natural subconscious reaction to stepping into conflict with a particular ethnic culture. The reflection of biases is a key element in the formation of basic ethical values in life that are determined by the historical reality.
When it comes to potential biases within the realm of pharmacy, it is worth pointing out Hispanic, African-American and non-English speaking patients as well as those from low-income families and HIV-positive patients. According to White-Means et al., health care workers tend to exhibit implicit race and skin tone biases, namely they demonstrate latent discrimination towards blacks. In this regard, cultural competency is essential in terms of addressing various biases. The process of confronting biases is not that easy.
Ethical decision making is of paramount importance, since it facilitates understanding of social and psychological relations that oftentimes distort the system of personal values and self-evaluation. There is a need for the implementation of a comprehensive approach to career building in terms of addressing the socio-psychological barriers.
Works cited
Dessing, R. P. Ethics applied to pharmacy practice. Pharmacy World & Science 22.1 (2000): 10-16. Print.
White-Means, Shelley, Dong, Zhiyong, Hufstader, Meghan, and Brown, Lawrence T. Cultural competency, race, and skin tone bias among pharmacy, nursing, and medical students implications for addressing health disparities. Medical Care Research and Review 66.4 (2009): 436-455. Print.
