"Any refusal to dispense — regardless of whether it is motivated by religion, morals, conscience, ethics, discriminatory prejudices, or personal distaste for a patient — violates the rules."
This week a US appeals court ruled that a pharmacist's personal convictions does not outweigh a patient's right to timely medication.
Two Washington state pharmacists filed a lawsuit saying that their religious beliefs should exempt them from carrying emergency contraception. Washington state law requires pharmacies to stock and sell the "morning-after pill." The pharmacists argued that the requirement would make them chose between keeping their jobs or supporting a medication they regard as a form of abortion because it can prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. The court ruled the law did not violate freedom of religion, saying that the law was valid and neutral. Following the ruling, the requirement that Washington pharmacies carry Plan B has taken immediate effect.
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"This week a US appeals court ruled that a pharmacist's personal convictions does not outweigh a patient's right to timely medication."
1This just seems like a no brainer to me. Since when does a pharmacist's personal feelings matter when dispensing medication? That is their JOB!
Healthcare is a science, and therefore must not be corrupted by religious views or ideology that places a doctor's personal views over the needs of a patient. A great decision by the appellate court.
2So much whining over common sense issues. Why are we so sue- happy in the US? Embarassing.
3When is this crap ever going to end? There's a lot of things I could say but first it ties the hands of our doctors who we trust and depend on for guidance. It puts power in the hands of a pharmacist over them and our own lives. These pharmacists are not Gods or world leaders for attending a local college and being a member of a church. It doesn't make any sense. If they are opposed to a drug like that then what are the heck are they doing there in the first place? What about all the pain killers and other crap they hand out like candy? Talk about a bunch of hypocrites. That's the worst thing according to the bible.
4Maybe they should study a little more about that lesson.
YES! It's absurd that anyone should think that their personal feelings/beliefs should ever be an excuse for not performing their job properly.
5One of the many reasons why I love living in Seattle
6FINALLY! I hope this happens for all the US... I've heard a lot of stories from people who couldn't get emergency contraception in time because of pharmacists.
7thank you, Washington, for having common sense
8So comforting to know that the government has to step in and force some of these people to fulfill the basic duties of their jobs.
9those pharmacists are stupid. why do people expect others to live by THEIR beliefs?!
I don't give a flying f*ck what you believe, if I want the pill and I'm 18...give it to me! it's the law!! and your job!
10i don't feel that my personal convictions should hinder me as a future pharmacist from my main purpose: providing patient care. but in the same vein, it's tough to say that any one must to do what they feel is morally wrong, no matter what job. to my knowledge, doctors reserve the right to abstain from performing abortions according to their morals/beliefs. the AMA also forbids them to participate in executions. one of my friends tried to get an abortion only to be told that the hospital does not participate in such procedures due to their religious affiliation.
legally, pharmacists are not required to dispense what they do not carry in stock (before this law was written in effect in washington regarding plan b of course). however, they are supposed to help the patient find a pharmacy that will fill the prescription in a timely manner. it's unfortunate that such incidences are portraying pharmacists in a negative light.
and dikke kus, i agree that sometime it does feel like oxycontin is getting handed out like candy, but keep in mind that pharmacists can't legally fill a medication without a valid prescription written by a health care professional with prescriptive authority. also, to become a pharmacist, one must graduate from from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy (with a doctorate degree) and obtain at least 1500 intern hours to be eligible to take the boards and be licensed.
11If someone does not put their beliefs/morals/convictions ahead of their job then they do not have beliefs/morals/convictions. You cannot force someone to do something against what they believe is right. The pharmacist has rights just as much as the woman had rights. She could have gone to another pharmacy or pharmacist or thought ahead.
12Thank you! Let's hope this is the firs step toward federal legislation repealing so-called conscience laws. Your conscience does not trump another person's need. A pharmacist's job is to dispense medication, not judge the moral character of their customers. And to the other Anonymous @ 8:41, not every pharmacy carries Plan B; there was a huge uproar about Wal-Mart refusing to carry it a few years ago. So no, actually, in many places women DON'T have the option of going to another pharmacy. The other pharmacy may by 300 miles away in another state. Besides, a pharmacist's job is to dispense medicine, not to judge the moral character of people who need that medicine. If a pharmacist wants to do that, he should quit the pharmacy biz and become a priest. I think someone who becomes a pharmacist knowing they will not dispense a medicine, then they are becoming a pharmacist with the full knowledge that they will not do their jobs. That is unscrupulous and vile; pharmacists who refuse to dristribute Plan B should be fired, because they are obviously in the wrong line of work.
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