Skip to Main Content

MPharm Selection

Welcome to your pre-selection event task. You are required to submit your responses to TWO ethical scenarios before your Pharmacy interview.

Your interview will be based upon your responses to these scenarios. A copy of your responses to this form will be sent to you via email for your reference during the interview.

We are looking for responses that demonstrate that you can justify your position and that you can see more than one side of an argument. You do not need to study anything in preparation, but it is expected that you can clearly articulate and justify your response during your interview.

All fields marked with are required.

Student Details




Scenario 1: Compassion at the End of Life

Betty and Derek are in their eighties and have been living in a residential home for the past nine years. Betty and Derek have always had a very close marriage, always tend to do things together and share each other’s company as much as possible. For practical reasons, the couple have separate rooms, but next to each other.

Betty is registered blind, is hard of hearing and uses a wheelchair. Derek has been very ill recently with pneumonia and is showing no sign of recovery. Derek has stated that he wants to remain where he is and if it comes to it, he wishes to “die with Betty there, holding her hand.”

Betty has asked the nurses to ensure that she is present if Derek’s condition gets worse. At 3 a.m. Derek deteriorates rapidly. The carers wake Betty from her sleep and inform her.

When moving Betty to Derek's room, it is discovered that Betty's wheelchair is not working. One of the carers goes to locate a replacement chair for Betty.

Unfortunately, in the time it takes to find a replacement chair, the carers discover that Derek has stopped breathing. The carers are upset that Derek has died and that Betty was unable to spend the last precious moments with Derek. They are concerned that Betty will be distressed knowing that Derek died alone without her by his side. They consider telling Betty that Derek is still alive and allow her to sit and hold his hand for a while and then tell her he has died a little later.

Proposal: It is proposed that the carers allow Betty to sit with Derek believing he is still alive.






Scenario 2: Food for Thought

Ahmed, a 65-year-old man, is a voluntary inpatient in an Acute Mental Health Unit. He has been admitted for assessment and treatment of severe depression. Ahmed moved to the UK 20 years ago from Asia. On admission, Ahmed is found to be underweight and he reports a moderate loss of appetite which has increased during his stay on the unit. Ahmed enjoys eating his wife's homemade food but dislikes hospital food on the whole. This seems to have contributed to a steady, continual loss of weight.

You are the Health Care Support Worker on duty. You have spoken to Ahmed and encouraged him to fill in his daily menu choice. Ahmed continues to be unmotivated and seems disinterested but fills the form in anyway. Ahmed has also been referred to the dietician.

At mealtime, you notice that Ahmed has not eaten any of the food which has arrived from the kitchens, and despite encouragement, asks you to take his tray away. You report this to the nurse in charge and document your observation in Ahmed's notes. At visiting time, you notice that Ahmed is sat with his wife and is eating curry and rice in the day room.

It is evident that Ahmed's wife has, against the hospital policy, brought food in for him. The policy states that due to legal obligations (Food Safety Act 1990) relatives and patients cannot bring in meals containing cooked meat as they may support the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Proposal: It is proposed that you, as the healthcare support worker, continue to allow Ahmed to consume his wife’s home cooked food in the communal area.






On completion of the scenarios, you will be invited to attend a faculty interview to determine your suitability for the course.



 
Back to Top