Question

One late Saturday evening a client, well known to the pharmacist, presents at the pharmacy in much distress. Over the last few months she had been collecting her mother's regular medications for cancer treatment and pain relief. The pharmacist had no doubt the client's mother was suffering much pain. The client approached you imploring for an extra box of morphine 10mg standard release tablets, as her mother had used up all her repeats and has just run out. The last dispensing of the tablets had been one week earlier. Lately, her mother has needed a lot more morphine than usual for breakthrough pain. 1-WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN DECIDING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? O Rights o Duty O Fairness o Equality Truth O Autonomy/Choice O Need O Merit Safety o Consistency o Consequences o The Evidence/Facts o The Law o Other 2. Explain your Decision?

Answer 1

The law

It is illegal to dispense a narcotic drug like morphine more than the prescribed dose. It is because of the risk of misuse of the drug for seeking pleasure instead of treating pain. In the above mentioned case, it is difficult to identify the truth whether the drug is actually needed by the mother in pain. There are chances of drug abuse by anyone known to the client. To legally safeguard oneself, it is Highly recommend to dispense only the prescribed dose by the physician