INTRODUCTION:
Law and ethics work together to maintain order and harmony in society.
- Law provides formal rules that must be followed.
- Ethics guides moral conduct and professional behavior.
Both are essential in regulating the pharmacy profession and ensuring safe, ethical practices in drug manufacture, distribution, and use.
LAW: DEFINITION AND MEANING
- Law refers to a set of rules and regulations that control the actions of individuals and society.
- Law is formulated and enforced by the government.
- According to Rig Veda:
“Law is the king of monarchs, far more powerful and right than they; by whose aid even the weak may conquer over the strong.”
- According to John Locke:
“Every law is a veritable freedom; the ends of law are not to abolish or confine but to preserve and increase freedom.”
- Characteristics of Law:
- It presupposes the existence of a state.
- The state creates or authorizes laws.
- Laws must be recognized and approved to be effective.
- Laws are enacted to achieve social or specific goals.
- Violation of law leads to punishment such as fine, imprisonment, or both.
ETHICS: DEFINITION AND MEANING
- Ethics is the branch of moral philosophy that guides human conduct.
- It consists of rules or guidelines based on moral values and professional norms.
- Violation of ethics does not lead to legal punishment, but it affects professional reputation and trust.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW:
There are six general principles of law that support a just and fair society:
1) PRINCIPLE OF DEMOCRACY:
- Defined by Abraham Lincoln as “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
- Promotes freedom, equality, and self-determination.
2) PRINCIPLE OF CONSTITUTIONALISM:
- Refers to establishing limitations on the power of the state to preserve individual freedom.
- The Constitution acts as a safeguard against misuse of authority.
3) PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE:
- Justice is a moral ideal based on fairness and equality.
- Distributive Justice: Deals with fair distribution of benefits and resources.
- Corrective Justice: Restores equality when it is disrupted by wrongdoing.
4) PRINCIPLE OF LIBERTY:
- Liberty means the freedom to think and act as one wishes.
- It ensures individuals can live freely without unjust interference.
5) PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY:
- “Like things should be treated alike; unlike things differently.”
- All citizens are equal before the law and subject to the same judicial process.
6) PRINCIPLE OF FRATERNITY:
- Fraternity means brotherhood and unity among people working toward common goals and mutual welfare.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF PHARMACY LAWS IN INDIA:
INTRODUCTION:
Law and ethics work together to maintain order and harmony in society.
- Law provides formal rules that must be followed.
- Ethics guides moral conduct and professional behavior.
Both are essential in regulating the pharmacy profession and ensuring safe, ethical practices in drug manufacture, distribution, and use.
LAW: DEFINITION AND MEANING
- Law refers to a set of rules and regulations that control the actions of individuals and society.
- Law is formulated and enforced by the government.
- According to Rig Veda:
“Law is the king of monarchs, far more powerful and right than they; by whose aid even the weak may conquer over the strong.”
- According to John Locke:
“Every law is a veritable freedom; the ends of law are not to abolish or confine but to preserve and increase freedom.”
- Characteristics of Law:
- It presupposes the existence of a state.
- The state creates or authorizes laws.
- Laws must be recognized and approved to be effective.
- Laws are enacted to achieve social or specific goals.
- Violation of law leads to punishment such as fine, imprisonment, or both.
ETHICS: DEFINITION AND MEANING
- Ethics is the branch of moral philosophy that guides human conduct.
- It consists of rules or guidelines based on moral values and professional norms.
- Violation of ethics does not lead to legal punishment, but it affects professional reputation and trust.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW:
There are six general principles of law that support a just and fair society:
1) PRINCIPLE OF DEMOCRACY:
- Defined by Abraham Lincoln as “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
- Promotes freedom, equality, and self-determination.
2) PRINCIPLE OF CONSTITUTIONALISM:
- Refers to establishing limitations on the power of the state to preserve individual freedom.
- The Constitution acts as a safeguard against misuse of authority.
3) PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE:
- Justice is a moral ideal based on fairness and equality.
- Distributive Justice: Deals with fair distribution of benefits and resources.
- Corrective Justice: Restores equality when it is disrupted by wrongdoing.
4) PRINCIPLE OF LIBERTY:
- Liberty means the freedom to think and act as one wishes.
- It ensures individuals can live freely without unjust interference.
5) PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY:
- “Like things should be treated alike; unlike things differently.”
- All citizens are equal before the law and subject to the same judicial process.
6) PRINCIPLE OF FRATERNITY:
- Fraternity means brotherhood and unity among people working toward common goals and mutual welfare.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF PHARMACY LAWS IN INDIA:
- Pharmacy developed as a branch of medicine but became an independent science in the 19th century.
- Initially, apothecaries, priests, and physicians handled patient care and drug preparation.
- Over time, the need for professional pharmacists and drug regulation emerged.
