Chapter V: Ethics

The pharmacist-biologist must ensure compliance with professional ethics and with all regulations issued in the interests of public health. He shall carry out his duties by applying appropriate scientific methods and, where necessary, by obtaining the assistance of enlightened advice. He must carefully supervise the performance of examinations which he does not carry out himself. In the case of a contract for collaboration between laboratories, he must ensure that the…

The scientific information for the medical or pharmaceutical profession mentioned in article L. 6211-7 may not be misused for advertising purposes.

In addition to the information that must appear under the regulations in force on all documents issued by his laboratory, the pharmacist-biologist may only include all or some of the following information on these documents: 1° Telephone and fax number ; 2° Bank account number; 3° The activities carried out as set out in the prefectoral authorisation; 4° Where applicable, the name or acronym of the association, group or network…

The pharmacist-biologist may refuse to carry out a sample or analysis on grounds of the patient’s interest or the unlawful nature of the request. If he refuses on other grounds, he must provide the patient with all the information necessary to enable him to have the sample taken or the test performed.

The pharmacist-biologist must not reduce his fees in order to compete unfairly or to the detriment of the quality of the services he provides. In the case of collaboration contracts between laboratories, fees for transmissions must be set with tact and moderation. He must refrain from collecting samples for analysis if this practice would constitute unfair competition to the detriment of his colleagues.

A pharmacist-biologist may not open a medical biology analysis laboratory in a building where another medical biology analysis laboratory is already located without the agreement of the director(s) and deputy director(s) and, failing this, without the authorisation of the council of the competent section of the Ordre des pharmaciens. Authorisation may only be refused on the grounds of a risk of confusion for the public or the interests of patients.

The pharmacist entrusted with the management of a laboratory after the death of the proprietor must, while taking account of the legitimate interests of the successors, require them to respect his professional independence.