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FAQs - Ethics and Ethical Standards for Pharmacists | New Zealand CPD Course

Ethics and Ethical Standards for Pharmacists

Course Description

Ethics and Ethical Standards for Pharmacists (New Zealand) is a CPD course designed to help pharmacists understand, apply, and demonstrate ethical behaviour in line with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand (PCNZ) Code of Ethics (2018).

Pharmacists are trusted guardians of medicines and patient safety. Their ethical responsibilities include confidentiality, informed consent, honesty, cultural safety, and the responsible stewardship of medicines and information. This course explores the four core ethical principles — autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice — alongside the PCNZ’s professional obligations, Te Tiriti principles, and New Zealand’s legal frameworks for pharmacy practice.

Through regulator-aligned guidance and realistic case studies, learners gain practical strategies to navigate ethical dilemmas, demonstrate reflection and remediation, and uphold professional integrity in community, hospital, and clinical-pharmacy settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a CPD course designed to help pharmacists understand, apply, and demonstrate ethical behaviour in line with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand (PCNZ) Code of Ethics (2018). It covers core ethical principles, professional obligations, and practical strategies.
Pharmacists are trusted guardians of medicines and patient safety. Their ethical responsibilities include confidentiality, informed consent, honesty, cultural safety, and the responsible stewardship of medicines and information.
The course is aligned with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand (PCNZ) Code of Ethics (2018), alongside Te Tiriti principles and New Zealand's legal frameworks for pharmacy practice.
The course explores the four core ethical principles — autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice — alongside the PCNZ's professional obligations and New Zealand-specific cultural and legal expectations.
Yes, Te Tiriti principles are covered alongside the PCNZ Code of Ethics, the four core ethical principles, and New Zealand's legal frameworks. These are essential components of culturally safe pharmacy practice.
The course addresses pharmacists practising in community, hospital, and clinical-pharmacy settings. It provides practical strategies relevant to all areas of pharmacy practice in New Zealand.
Through regulator-aligned guidance and realistic case studies, learners gain practical strategies to navigate ethical dilemmas, demonstrate reflection and remediation, and uphold professional integrity.
Yes, the course uses realistic case studies alongside regulator-aligned guidance to help pharmacists understand how ethical issues arise in real practice and how to respond professionally.
The course is especially valuable for pharmacists facing ethical concerns, complaints, or fitness-to-practise processes, as well as those seeking to strengthen their ethical practice and PCNZ compliance proactively.
The course helps pharmacists demonstrate reflection and remediation through structured approaches that satisfy PCNZ expectations and demonstrate genuine professional growth and ethical competence.
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Course Content

Course Objectives
Course Objectives
Section 1 — Why Ethics Matters in New Zealand Pharmacy Practice
1.1 The Role of Ethics in Pharmacy
1.2 Why the Pharmacy Council Prioritises Ethics
1.3 Ethics and Professional Identity in Aotearoa
1.4 Consequences of Ethical Lapses
1.5 Why Ethics Matters Now More Than Ever
1.6 Reflective Quiz
Section 2 — Core Ethical Principles — Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, Justice
2.1 Autonomy — Respecting Patient Choice
2.2 Beneficence — Acting in the Patient’s Best Interest
2.3 Non-Maleficence — “Do No Harm”
2.4 Justice — Fairness and Equity in Care
2.5 Balancing Principles in Practice
2.6 Reflective Quiz
Section 3 — PCNZ Code of Ethics (2018): Key Ethical Expectations
3.2 Obligation 2 — Act with Honesty and Integrity
3.3 Obligation 3 — Provide Competent and Safe Care
3.4 Obligation 4 — Respect and Protect Patient Confidentiality
3.5 Obligation 5 — Promote Equity and Cultural Safety
3.6 Accountability and Transparency
3.7 Digital Professionalism
3.8 Reflective Quiz
Section 4 — Common Ethical Dilemmas in Pharmacy Practice in Aotearoa
4.1 Informed Refusal vs Beneficence
4.2 Confidentiality vs Duty to Protect
4.3 Cultural Safety and Patient Choice
4.4 Conflicts of Interest and Commercial Pressure
4.5 Digital Professionalism and Social Media
4.6 Supply of Restricted or High-Risk Medicines
4.7 Errors and Disclosure
4.8 Inter-Professional Conflicts
4.9 Reflective Quiz
Section 5 — Confidentiality, Digital Professionalism, and Privacy (Health Information Privacy Code 2020)
5.1 The Ethical Duty of Confidentiality
5.3 Confidentiality in the Digital Era
5.4 Digital Professionalism and Social Media
5.5 Telehealth and Remote Pharmacy Services
5.6 Consequences of Breaches
5.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 6 — Probity, Honesty, and Accountability in Pharmacy Practice (New Zealand)
6.1 Probity as a Core Ethical Duty
6.2 Honesty in Documentation and Communication
6.3 Financial Integrity and Conflicts of Interest
6.4 Accountability in Practice
6.5 Consequences of Breaching Probity and Accountability
6.6 Building a Culture of Probity and Accountability
6.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 7 — Weak vs Strong Ethical Responses — Case Comparisons
7.1 Dispensing Error
7.2 Consent and Patient Autonomy
7.3 Boundary Concern
7.4 Financial Misconduct
7.5 Disrespectful Communication
7.6 Cultural Safety Lapse
7.7 Lessons Across Cases
7.8 Reflective Quiz
Section 8 — Demonstrating Ethics in Fitness-to-Practise and Remediation Processes
8.1 Why Ethical Demonstration Matters
8.2 How the PCNZ Assesses Ethical Behaviour
8.3 Weak vs Strong Demonstrations
8.4 Evidence That Reassures the PCNZ
8.5 Remediation Portfolios in New Zealand
8.6 Long-Term Monitoring and Ethical Growth
8.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 9 — Embedding Ethics into Professional Identity and Resilience
9.1 Ethics as Professional Identity
9.2 Daily Ethical Habits
9.3 Reflection and Accountability as Ongoing Practice
9.4 Building Resilience to Sustain Ethics
9.5 Mentorship and Role Modelling
9.6 Sustaining Ethics Across a Career
9.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 10: Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Post-Course Assessment
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