Woman denied the Pill ‘because of religion'

[Pharmanaut]

I have not used the conscience clause myself but defend its existence. If we get to the situation where pills to cause abortion are given out in community pharmacy, (some people feel that EHC is close to this but I am meaning drugs such as misoprostolol or mifepristone for express purpose of aborting a known pregnancy at poss 7 or 8 weeks etc), then I would like the right to gently direct the patient to an alternative pharmacy. Nurses can also opt not to be involved in abortion procedures etc. Obviously, it is appropriate to give some thought to where you work as if you held such an objection and took a job in an abortion clinic that would be plain stupid, but community pharmacy is not so specialised. I have come across people unwilling to supply EHC but personally have not seen refusal of regular contraceptives aimed to act before conception. I see the inconvenience but as the code of ethics allows this course of action I want to support the individual involved in this case.

I would probably draw my personal ethical line in the sand at that point.
I would hope that the PLB would step in and make sure that those who had reservations would not have the Daily Snail down upon them.
Choose the headline : "Abortion drug free for all on the high street" from one newspaper.
"Religious fanatic pharmacist caused me to have unwanted baby" from another.

Just wait until prescriptions for Euthanasia drugs - available just after I retire!

[LeftArm]

Roper I like your post.
It's amazing how the whole thing changes by changing "Religious" to "conscience".

[PHARMAC1ST]

This is a good one. I'm muslim. My religion allows birth control pills. So no issues with supplying the pill. EHC, i have supplied several times. I personally don't think there is a big difference if the pharmacist makes the supply directly as OTC or gives it out on prescription written by a doctor.

Also what if a woman was raped and was too scared to tell anyone but wanted to have the morning after pill to prevent pregnancy? In islam EHC can be used in certain cases and would be the same as selling a knife to a person, it can be used for good or it can be used to hurt someone. You would not start asking what are you using this knife for, etc therefore i believe the same would apply in EHC. So it is up to the person whether they use it for the right purpose or not.

However I will defend the right for a pharmacist not to make supply on conscience clause but should be used with serious thought and bearing in mind the consequences of not making the supply to the patient.

[hibernia]

When I started practicing in Ireland condoms were only available on prescription and the pill was only licenced as a "cycle regulator", with contraception being merely a side-effect. Irish women must have had the most irregular cycles in the world judging by the volume prescribed but many doctors did not prescribe it and many pharmacies did not dispense prescriptions for it. Women are good at sharing information and soon found a scource of supply although it could be very difficult for those outside the major towns.

When the sale of condoms was legalised very few pharmacies stocked them and none had them on open display. For many years my employer didn't stock them but staff did order supplies for "personal" use and might supply a family and friends "under the counter". A blind eye was turned to this practice. He claimed his stance was to avoid embarassment to the all female staff. We told him it was far more embarassing refusing people so eventually we kept them in stock, but well out of sight.
When I bought the pharmacy one of the first things I did was put them on the counter. Reaction was mixed but mostly supportive although I did get a lecture from the Parish Priest. I pointed out nobody was being forced to buy or use them and it was my job to look after people's bodies not their souls.

The whole era was one of complete hypocrisy, especially as we now know about all the child sexual abuse that went on at the time. I would hate to go back to those days yet I still defend and respect everybody's right to act according to their conscience. When we abandon that and force people to do what they believe to be morally wrong where do you stop?

[DavidS]

a brilliant post, Thanks.

[Fleegle]

Hear Hear.

Thanks Hibernia...you have fully clarified what I attempted to say in my previous post.

Fleeg.

[Farnsfield]

According to the news report I heard, the pharmacist's employer (a major multiple) apologised to the patient but said nothing about the pharmacist's right to act according to her conscience. Am I alone in being uncomfortable with this?

[DavidS]

I think it is reasonable for anyone to say that they are sorry for any inconvenience caused to the patient, while still supporting the pharmacist in making that decision.

I have no idea if that's what happened, of course.

[johnep]

Now started to appear in local papers as a news item with generally unfavourable comment. One columnist said that pharmacists not prepared to dispense OC should not work in a pharmacy. He said it was akin to a vegetarian working in an abattoir or a conscientious objector joining the army.
I think this story has some way to run.
johnep

[DavidS]

Now started to appear in local papers as a news item

Mmmm. Perhaps we can give some guidance to those who are considering a career in journalism, along the same lines

akin to a diligent honest writer becoming a tabloid journalist, perhaps?