Message from OPQ president: Towards better understanding of disciplinary decisions

Editor's note: This has been translated from its original French and first appeared on our sister site Profession Santé. Dear colleagues,I am writing to you following the recent publication of an article in Profession Santé (and Pharmacy Practice) on two recent disciplinary decisions. I understand the reactions this article has provoked, and feel it is necessary to clarify the situation to promote better understanding and ease tensions. Disciplinary decisions are always complex, and their interpretation can sometimes be confusing without proper explanation. This is exactly what happened in this case.The factsThe two disciplinary decisions from the Order of Pharmacists of Quebec discussed here are essentially a reminder of the importance of keeping a record of interventions carried out to promote therapeutic compliance, as part of the activity of monitoring therapy. In these cases, there was no intervention plan or note in the file to verify whether followup had been carried out.As pharmacists, we are bound by an obligation of means, not of results, for this activity. Our professional responsibility covers the quality of the care we provide, the support we offer and the documentation of our interventions, but our patients' ultimate choices are their own.Read: Two pharmacists sanctioned for serious failures in monitoring a patientRead: Disciplinary sanctions for lack of file notes: 'It created unease and fear'The importance of documentationThe notion of documentation remains a pillar of our professional practice. If a procedure is not recorded, it may be considered as not having been carried out. This rule is not there to complicate our lives, but to protect our patients, our practice and ensure continuity of care.A constructive approachSince the beginning of my career, I've always taken the time to read disciplinary decisions. I admit that they have sometimes caused me concern, but I also recognize that they have helped to enrich and improve my practice over the years.The important thing to remember about these decisions is neither the fear of practising, nor the anger born of misunderstanding. Rather, it's an opportunity to reflect on and adapt our practices, not in a defensive posture in the face of possible investigations, but as part of a process of continuous improvement in the service of our patients' real needs.I would also like to remind you of a fundamental principle of our profession: As pharmacists, we are collectively responsible for the well-being of our patients. When a colleague reports a situation of concern, this action is not taken to attack other pharmacists, but out of respect for this collective responsibility for patient safety. It is this professional solidarity that strengthens public confidence in our profession.Our commitment to youThe pharmacists who work for the investigations department have a tough job, but they always carry it out by exercising a nuanced judgment, constantly weighing up the demands of public protection against the realities of professional practice. They carry out this arduous task with the rigour their role demands.That said, we recognize the need to better communicate disciplinary decisions. We have yet to determine the best way to do this, but our goal is to provide you with more explanations of the lessons to be learned from the decisions, in order to promote a better overall understanding and thus collectively improve our practices.Your dedication to your patients and your profession is undeniable. Let's continue to work together to develop our practice in line with our professional values and for the benefit of public health.

Message from OPQ president: Towards better understanding of disciplinary decisions

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