The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1902-01-16
Ethical Relations Of hysicians and
Pharmacists.

In view OF all that has been said and
written concerning the relation between
Medicine and Pharmacy, the subject
may bc truly said to have been exhaust
cd. The writer hopes TO do little more
than briefly state tho deductions OF n
discussion for the purpose OF disclosing
those scientific axioms which are some
what hidden In the vcrbosity OF the lit
eraturo now oXtant.
A Pharmacist, according to Webster,
Is ono skilled In the art Of preparing,
compounding and dispensing medicines
To designate the mere iradcsman, whose
sole ambition, apparently, Is to hand
over the counter some proprietary euro
all for small profit, the same authority
furnishes the word Pharmacopollst or
one who solls medicines. Viewed In tho
| light Of his relation 10 the pharmacist,
the physician may be defined rs one " ho
Is skilled in the art of prescribing mod.
icines.
In these definitions Is found the solu-
tion OF the whole problem. The physi-
clan prescribes, the pharmacist dispen-
SEES Both TO prescribe and 10 dispense
requires skill, and II is for this skill
each is compensated. Hence arises u
mutually Of int rests, and mutually
OF obligation.
The prescribing by druggists and tho
dispensing by physicians Is the wrong
which disturbs the equilibrium OF the
relationship, and sets at war two In
torests best served In firm friendship.
This much for the mutual relation
existing between the physician and tho
pharmacist. The two sustain common
position toward the general public,
which is partially summarized above.
Both professions arc 10 be regarded from
higher standpoint than mere vacations
by which men satisfy their physical
wants. Both professions have 10 deal
with health and life, and thus their
calling Is one Of humanity. This II
recognized by the public when II pro-
vidcs nd dvaniages, schools OF medicine
and schools OF pharmacy, for the cdu-
cation of the conscrvators OF the public
health. IL Is Il lack OF appreciation of
this high relation which permits either
tho physician or pharmacist 10 lower
himself to the methods OF mere trade,
and bid TO- patronage In the same man
ncr that n grocer strives Ia sell job
lot OF Goldfish. II Ia n keen sensiblliiy
of this relation which enables many II
physician and pharmacist to preserve
his professional dignity even at tho cost
Of Strengthened circumstances and ham
bic lot, while he sees the unprinciplod
"Quack" and pharmacopolist thrive
upon public apathy and ignorance.
Another violation Of the ethical code
Is reiilling prescriptions without tho
knowledge Of the physician who wrote
them. The druggist, though ho be
competent TO examine and diagnose,
would be very unproicssional TO do so
without first being invited by the at
tending physicians; aud II such invita-
ton had not been EXTENDED either by the
physician in charge or solicited by the
patient by way Of consultation, he should
stand alooi and be not guilty OF
unprofessional conduct. II is not as
n matter OF remuneration that | say
this, but rather as protection TO my
patients; for how do they know whether
or not would want TO change tho treat
mcnt,
II Il wcllknown fact even TO the Ia.
iety that physicians change their rene.
dies from time to time; and without scc-
ing the patients or having an oppor-
tunity to know something OF their con-
dition ! would not be responsible for
their tardy convalescence. Yet the pa
tient falls out with you and oitentimes
consults another physician, and Of
course the pharmacist has not protllcd
thereby. hut has laid tho foundation
for unfriendly relations between the two
professions 5. e. PARSONS.
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