Overview of Pediatric Ethicscope 2017 Volume 30 Number 2: Shortages of drugs, surpluses of ethical challenges; the new normal in pharmacy; interview of Jeffery Dome; the reasons underlying the drug shortage crisis.
Shortages of life-saving chemotherapeutics and supportive care agents are pervasive and enduring. These shortages represent a true public health crisis, and surprisingly, have failed to garner greater attention within the medical community or the public at-large.
The issue of drug shortages can be framed as those who wish to ensure drug availability in virtue of dedication to the patients’ interests, on one hand, and those who herald economic responsibilities, on the other. A historical and philosophical account of the problem.