Three cases involving at-will employment of pharmacists examine whether their terminations were legal.
The largest insider-trading case in history involves a
doctor who provided results from an Alzheimer’s drug trial to a hedge
fund.
Does the ban on off-label marketing of drugs violate a pharmaceutical sales representative’s freedom of speech?
The company at the center of the fungal meningitis
outbreak was acting as a manufacturer and not as a traditional
compounding pharmacy.
Illinois pharmacists are no longer required to dispense
emergency contraception when their own religious beliefs are opposed to
its use.
E-prescribing of controlled substances and prescription misuse are among the many issues being addressed by the DEA.
Demands for pharmacist services under the ACA are likely to have a huge impact on future workforce needs.
As gatekeepers of controlled substances, pharmacists must distinguish between legitimate and questionable prescriptions.
According to a government report, questionable Medicare Part D billing seems to be on the rise in community pharmacies.
Another chain-store pharmacy is being investigated for distributing “too much” oxycodone.
The DEA’s expectations for policing pharmacies and their patients who request controlled substances are unclear.
The quest for more effective treatments may lead to questionable off-label prescribing.
It’s time to end the confusing practice of putting “Use as directed” on prescriptions.
Many factors contribute to why reported drug shortages are at their highest levels in more than a decade.
Does prohibiting off-label promotion of drugs violate commercial free speech?
The FDA has continually questioned the traditional compounding of veterinary drugs.
As health care professionals, pharmacists must be cautious when sharing information online.
A recent Supreme Court ruling means that generic manufacturers cannot be held liable for inadequate warning labels.
The Supreme Court has ruled that state attempts to restrict this practice are unconstitutional.
It is misleading to believe that restricted access programs for
prescription drugs will not result in more responsibility for
pharmacists.
Should pharmaceutical company CEOs be held accountable for off-label promotion of their products?
A zero-tolerance policy toward possession of a controlled substance has unintended consequences.
This month’s case reveals an embezzlement scheme involving a pharmacist’s trusted accountant.
Plaintiffs in pharmacy malpractice cases have begun with increasing
frequency to ask for extra money designed to punish the defendants for
their conduct.
There has been much debate in the pharmacy world over whether this practice is lawful or not.
Do pharmacists have a duty to warn patients about the dangers associated with the use of a prescription medication?
We must not allow a few bad apples to spoil the integrity of the pharmacy profession.
A case involving state legislator fraud and several health care
companies crosses the line between conflict of interest and legitimate
support.
Are manufacturers responsible for label changes if the FDA previously
found the generic to be bioequivalent to the brand-name drug?
New federal regulations allow controlled substances to be prescribed
electronically, which should help prevent errors and decrease
diversion.
Coverage of this important topic continues as we explore how benefits
can be achieved if pharmacy takes advantage of the opportunities that
the reforms embody.
The pharmacy industry will have many opportunities to benefit from the
new federal regulations.
The illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone
can cost pharmacists their licenses and more.
Claiming ignorance of controlled substances in your vehicle may not
excuse you from liability, even if you’re a pharmacist.
Do pharmacies owe a “duty of care” to those injured by a pharmacy patient who may be abusing prescription drugs?
How enforceable are company policies regarding personal electronic communications?
There is no reason to differentiate compensation or enforcement of
policies based on gender alone, as a female pharmacist and a large
pharmacy chain have learned.
A recent case that equates a pharmacist’s mistake with manslaughter
also raises the question of pharmacy technician responsibility.
New federal guidelines address compliance procedures when protected health information is disclosed in an unauthorized manner.
In order to clarify the current controversy surrounding the dispensing
of emergency contraception, the Washington State case and recent FDA
activity must be examined.
It is very expensive to provide treatment for patients during their
last 6 months of life. Should the U.S. adopt a policy of health care
rationing to control soaring costs?
Crime is on the rise, with thieves going directly to the source to
steal drugs. Several recent incidents raise the question, what is
considered excessive force when protecting the pharmacy?
Several states have adopted laws that prevent the disclosure of
prescriber-identifiable data. Has the tide turned in favor of
protecting the privacy of prescribing patterns?
What impact will Wyeth v. Levine have on drug labeling and public health?
When a judge has an alleged conflict of interest in a matter before
the court, who decides if he or she should be excused from the case?
If patients can’t make a good faith effort to return unwanted drugs without a lot of bureaucratic hassle, what should they do with them?
In late December 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) issued a set of regulations prohibiting individuals or legal
entities that accept
any money from federal programs from discriminating against those who refuse to engage in any form of behavior they deem offensive.
In the past few months, the federal government has issued two sets of
rules regarding the use of computers and related technologies governing
the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances.
As of September 1, 2008, there are 37 states in the United States that permit the use of the death penalty for individuals who have committed the most heinous of crimes.
The simple apology, "I'm sorry," while well intended at the time a health practitioner realizes something went wrong and caused the patient a problem, may be taken as evidence of guilt in a malpractice case.
Although not the first time the industry has attempted self-policing, on July 10, 2008, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the trade group representing traditional research-oriented drug companies and biotechnology firms, announced revised guidelines that will impact how manufacturers market prescription medicines to health care professionals.
Get ready for some new legal duties regarding patient safety and error reporting.
Have you ever wondered how well the FDA is doing at protecting the American public from harmful drugs?
The sorcerer leaves his apprentice alone in the workshop tidying up...
Many pharmacists voluntarily help educate the next generation of pharmacists who serve as pharmacy interns (or externs or similar titles) in retail and hospital settings.
Imagine that a family member is suffering from a horrible disease that has no apparent treatment.
Many pharmacists work for employers who offer disability insurance.
This month's case is not about prescriptions for humans, at least not primarily.
It's not immoral to make sure that prescription drug pharmacists don't overcharge the system.
It should not be a surprise to practicing pharmacists in the United States that diethylstilbestrol (DES) should never be dispensed to pregnant women because of the risks of cancer and other debilitating diseases to adults who were exposed to the drug while still in the womb.
A s Goliath moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
Articles discussing the liability of pharmacists or pharmacies for failing to warn patients about risks associated with the use of medications abound.
Is it a good and noble thing to stand up for your beliefs and refuse to do activities that you fully and honestly think are wrong, evil, or even sinful? What if your refusal to do something negatively affects somebody else who does not share your values--is it still okay to follow your conscience? Or, as a licensed pharmacist who swears to uphold our code of ethics, do you have to look first to the welfare of your patients even if doing so results in having to do something you understand to be morally wrong? Another way of looking at these dilemmas is to ask where the boundaries of law and ethics intersect and ask which of these forms of behavioral conduct takes precedence.
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were arrested for allegedly doing something criminally wrong? Probably not.
The New Hampshire Legislature enacted a law that bans pharmacies, insurance companies, and similar entities from transferring or using prescriber-identifiable data for certain commercial purposes.
It is time to dream.
Does the following describe your job as a pharmacist? Light work and physical demands involving occasional lifting of five to 15 pounds, sitting 5%, standing 50%, walking 25%, bending 10%, and reaching 10%.
This is a story made for soap operas.
Assume that you are working in a community pharmacy that you own and are fully licensed as a pharmacist by your state Board of Pharmacy (or the government's licensing organization), as is your pharmacy.
Although Latin phrases are not currently in vogue within the context of proper English communication (written or spoken), court opinions continue using archaic terms as if they were part of the lexicon of the day.