A patient presents to your pharmacy requesting a prescription for medical assistance in dying (MAID), which has been legally prescribed by a physician. You have a personal moral objection to MAID. According to the NAPRA Model Standards of Practice for Pharmacists, what is your ethical responsibility?

Question: A patient presents to your pharmacy requesting a prescription for medical assistance in dying (MAID), which has been legally prescribed by a physician. You have a personal moral objection to MAID. According to the NAPRA Model Standards of Practice for Pharmacists, what is your ethical responsibility?

Answer options:

• Refuse to dispense the medication and inform the patient they must find another pharmacy. ✅ Refer the patient to another pharmacist or pharmacy that is willing to dispense the medication without delay or judgment.
• Dispense the medication despite your personal objections, as it is a legal prescription.
• Inform the patient that you will dispense the medication after consulting with a colleague to ensure legal compliance.

Correct answer: Refer the patient to another pharmacist or pharmacy that is willing to dispense the medication without delay or judgment.

Explanation: The NAPRA Model Standards for Pharmacists addressing conscientious objection require pharmacists to ensure that the patient's access to care is not compromised. This means the pharmacist must facilitate a referral to another pharmacist or pharmacy without judgment or delay if they cannot provide care due to a conscientious objection.