It's quite evident in our society today that we do not require certain individuals to be "responsible" for their actions, words, etc., while we do require other individuals to be "responsible" for their actions down to the very last letter.

For example, we don't hold politicians, media personnel, reporters, weathermen, and actors to what they do or say! But, we hold parents, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, engineers, etc. responsible for what they do or say. Why is there a difference and should there be a difference? Personally, I don't think so.

I think that politicians should not campaign and say negative things about other candidates. But, if they do, they should have "proof" and "documentation," which should be provided for the voters. Media personnel, reporters, etc. should have documentation and valid proof for their stories. I get tired of seeing reporters all of a sudden becoming the "experts" in a field about which they know nothing but are simply reporting what they have been told or are voicing their own opinion. "News" is not news anymore but "opinions" and "drama" - and, yes, I'm now voicing my own "opinion." I would like to see "news" that is backed up by documentation and not presented just for the shock value it holds.

Granted, weathermen cannot guarantee the results of their predictions, but they do have a lot of sophisticated equipment and can come reasonably close�I guess that is all we can expect there. However, since when did actors and performers gain the opportunity of voicing their "opinions" about social or political topics and get access to the airways for their cause? Personally, I don't rely on their opinions about anything! They are entertainers who play "make-believe," so why should we think their opinions are any more valuable than yours or mine? I tend to trust the down-to-earth, ambitious, hard-working individual that is knowledgeable and practical in their approach to life.

If we don't require some individuals to be responsible, then why do we require others to be responsible? Parents are "responsible" for their children. Pharmacists are "responsible" for dispensing/compounding the right medications; engineers are "responsible" for accurate design and construction of structures and equipment. If we make a mistake, then it's "no-holds barred" from the press, and they have literally ruined the lives of many individuals by untruthful stories. However, if the press makes a mistake, they are not held accountable! Has freedom of the press become a license to lie with the blessings of society? Oh for the day when the press will be held accountable for all that they say.

Responsibility carries with it trustworthiness, obligations, reliability, burden, and duty. Why does it not apply to everyone?

Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph
Editor-in-Chief

Member organizations of the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners held their regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Wednesday, August 2, 2006, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Read more about discussions on the compounding of prescriptions in pharmacies at www.acainfo.org/downloads/JCPP_News_Release082006.pdf

The Helper's Journey: Working with People Facing Grief, Loss, and Life-Threatening Illness
Dale G. Larson
Champaign, IL: Research Press, 1993. $24.95
Review by Betty Jo Grajeda, MD

This book is written for healthcare providers. It is deep reading and requires focus and dedication to get through the book. Some paragraphs offer challenging, complex thoughts, which may need to be read more than once to comprehend. The effort put forth will yield insight into our own fears, relationships, and communication skills.

In our care giving, we strive for a position of balance. If we are under-involved, we may find ourselves distant and burned out. Some situations may push us to move to a less involved stance. We may note fatigue, feeling emotionally drained, frustrated, and used up. These feelings may lead to diminished caring and burnout. Burnout then leads to a sense of futility and personal failure.

At the other end of the spectrum is over-involvement, which is exciting and exhausting. When the intensity becomes too great, coping skills are strained which lead to either under-involvement or setting healthy limits by withdrawing physically and emotionally.

Read this entire book review and many others for free at www.CompoundingToday.com/Books/Reviewlist.cfm

Beginning with IJPC's September/October 2006 (Pages 377 through 379), our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Loyd V. Allen, Jr., is writing a series of articles on the subject of compounding with hazardous drugs. "Basics of Compounding for Hazardous Drugs, Part 1: An Introduction" represents the first of this series of informative articles. Topics included in Part 1 are: the definition of a hazardous drug by various organizations, the use of hazardous drugs in the workplace, and a sample list of drugs that should be handled as hazardous.

Sign up today at www.IJPC.com and start your journal print and electronic subscriptions. You can download what you are currently subscribed to and purchase electronic access to our complete set of back issues.

Hollow-Type Suppositories
Hollow-type suppositories can be prepared to provide options in the rate and extent of drug delivery from a suppository dosage form. They can be prepared by making a melt; pouring the melt into a suppository mold; and inserting a glass, metal, or plastic rod into the back of the suppository about 2/3 of the way down creating a cylindrical "hole." After solidification and removal of the rod, place the drug, either as a powder, blend, semisolid, or liquid into the hole but leave ample space to seal the suppository. Next, take some additional melted base and pour on top of the drug to form a plug in the hole. Properly done, the suppository will not leak if a liquid is used. Drugs in combination with absorption enhancers and solvents, etc., can be used as the fill material. For longer action, an initial dose of the drug can be placed in the suppository form, and a slower release of the drug can be prepared by mixing the drug powder with Methocel E4M before packing or pouring it into the hole.