Ethical issues associated with managed care pharmacy services

The authors' purpose in raising these issues and questions is not to provide answers for the profession. We recognize that answers must be derived from a process that includes input from many individuals, and from many sectors of the profession. We also recognize that the pharmacist practicing today realizes that the health care system is changing. We believe that the code of ethics supporting our profession must be revised to reflect these changes to provide more meaningful guidance for pharmacists confronting difficult contemporary issues and dilemmas. We have tried to show that pharmacists working in the HMO setting may face unique problems that must be considered by a revised code of ethics. We are pleased that APhA has begun this process of revision.