Allied Professionals

Allied Professionals

Patients have both rights and responsibilities when it comes to their health and the health care services they receive. At the time of entering and being admitted to a hospital, each patient should be informed of his rights and responsibilities. If the patient does not understand his rights and responsibilities, they should be explained to the patient. Patient rights includes: the right to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of age, race, beliefs, gender or sexual orientation; the right to privacy and confidentiality; the right to emergency care; the right to access medical records; the right to receive explanation and understand the tests, diagnoses, prognosis, treatment options, and prescribed medications; the right to actively participate in health care decisions; the right to pain relief; the right to discontinue or decline treatment; and the right to discharge and transfer (Pozgar, 2007).

Alongside with these rights, patients are also expected to be responsible to their health as well as to others. It includes: maximizing healthy habits such as exercising, not smoking, and eating healthy; being considerate and making needs and expectations known; showing respect to other patients; respecting the privacy of other patients; making informed decisions; providing complete and accurate information to physician and hospital staff; following the treatment plan; understanding prescription drugs and their possible effects; meeting financial obligations; addressing any concerns or complaints regarding their care; and avoiding putting others at risk (Torey, 2012).

Basically, these rights can be categorized as either legal or human statements of desirable ethical principles such as the right to be treated with respect and dignity (Pozgar, 2007). Most are based on respect and responsibilities as human beings. To have an effective health care, there must be teamwork between patients, doctors, pharmacists and other health care professionals. Each entity involved should be aware of its rights and responsibilities, not just to their own, but also the rights and responsibilities to each other. In Robert Courtney case, the rights of the cancer patients that he has served has been violated since he intentionally diluted the two chemotherapy drugs Taxol and Gemzar for his own advantage. He has betrayed the trust of these poor cancer victims that relied on him. Being a Pharmacist, he was expected to be of good moral character that follows a health care ethic and respects the patients' role about their care. His duty comprises of compounding, dispensing and labeling of drugs pursuant to prescription orders (Graham, 2003).

Tampering and mislabeling of these prescription drugs are a clear violation of pharmacy regulations. And such tampering placed the patients in danger of death or bodily injury (Graham, 2003). Therefore, it is evident that Mr. Courtney has violated the patient's right to be treated with respect and dignity. He has shown no concern at all with his patients' health. As a member of a health care team, he was also expected to be a patient advocate. He should have been: a person that gives patients relevant, current, and understandable information concerning their medication therapy ...