Can a Pharmacist Refuse To Dispense Birth Control?

[CARose]

Bingo Oldfogey, you’re so right. Our current culture of death is rapidly sliding into the abyss.

CARose

 

[Pug]

CARose:

Thanks for the reference Pug.I still think I stand by my previous posts stating:

I knew you would. I just felt the need to post what no one seemed able to find.

The “laws” that I am familiar with are about emergency contraception, not the regular old pill (even though they are similar, the dose is vastly different). Even then, the laws only require you to fill the emergency stuff if you already carry the pill and such. If you don’t have it, then you don’t.

 

[Karin]

Wabrams-

CVS policy requires pharmacists who object to filling certain prescriptions to find another pharmacist in the store or another store location where the customer can get the prescription filled.***THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN (Dec. 13, 2004). ***

**Eckerd’s **drug dispensation policy which states that no pharmacist can decline to fill a prescription based solely on moral or religious grounds. **WOMEN’S HEALTH WKLY. (Mar. 18, 2004). **

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[CARose]

I think I’ll make a point of never purchasing a prescription from Eckerds. Heck, I’ll avoid them altogether for that matter. Who needs to support such a policy!

CARose

 

[Karin]

CARose:

I think I’ll make a point of never purchasing a prescription from Eckerds. Heck, I’ll avoid them altogether for that matter. Who needs to support such a policy!

CARose

The really funny thing is that we used to have three Eckerds in our town we now (within 3 years) have none

 

[allhers]

Karin:

Maybe all of these Pharmacists should get together and open a new chain of pharmacy:yup: …that way they do not need to stock or dispense things that they have moral objections to:thumbsup: …I for one would go to them!!!

So would I and many others! Great idea.

 

[allhers]

CARose:

I think I’ll make a point of never purchasing a prescription from Eckerds. Heck, I’ll avoid them altogether for that matter. Who needs to support such a policy!

CARose

…another great idea!!

 

[allhers]

CARose:

Are you?

And either way, the issue is about the morality of the pharmacist taking a stand when prescribing. As there are laws being proposed (and in some cases passed) which impinge upon a pharmacist refusing to dispense a legal prescription this matter is appropriate for discussion by all who desire to ensure that all Americans be afforded the right to follow their conscience.

CARose

Good point, they believe that they have a right to have an abortion, to take birth control, to not pray, etc…but, when it comes to our rights, oh, then we have a problem, they don’t want us to have any rights.

 

[CARose]

I’m happy to learn of the Eckert’s trend, in your town at least.

And I too would gladly use the services of a Pro-Life, Pro-culture of Life pharmacy!

Thanks Allhers!

CARose

 

[CARose]

Pug,

I just re-read the portion of HV which you quoted and realized that I had replied in more haste than I should have previously. While what I stated before was fine, it missed pointing out an important aspect of what was stated in HV.

as quoted:

does not at all consider illicit the use of those therapeutic means truly necessary to cure diseases of the organism, even if an impediment to procreation, which may be foreseen, should result therefore, provided such impediment is not, for whatever motive, directly willed

Note that it clearly states that the therapeutic means must be truly necessary to cure the disease. As has been stated, the pill merely masks the symptoms and does not cure the underlying issue.

I was just closing some windows and thought I take one last look at HV before closing it down when this important distinction caught my eye.

Thanks,

CARose

 

[MikeinSD]

No one had discussed the applying the birth control ban to non-Catholics. My understanding is that Catholic laws do not pertain to non-Catholics. Let me know if I’m incorrect. But a non-Catholic wants to purchase rubbers (men use birth control too) or birth control pills, he or she is not bound by the laws of a religion that they don’t belong.

 

[Karin]

MikeinSD:

No one had discussed the applying the birth control ban to non-Catholics. My understanding is that Catholic laws do not pertain to non-Catholics. Let me know if I’m incorrect. But a non-Catholic wants to purchase rubbers (men use birth control too) or birth control pills, he or she is not bound by the laws of a religion that they don’t belong.

Well these people could go to a pharmacy that wanted to sell or stocked their shelves with these things or had a pharmacist that had not objection to filling BC prescriptions

 

[vern_humphrey]

Karin:

Vern,

I think the point D Quintero was trying to make was if the pharmacist refuses to sell say birth control pill and the consumer goes elsewhere where they will sell it how does this help solve the problem (dispensing ABC)? The first pharmacist was right (morally) if he or she believes in not selling it (ABC).

As to the OB/GYN refusing to do an abortion…well the woman wanting it will just go to another OB/GYN and get it done.

So how do we stop the cycle of refusing something that we are morally opposed to and the consumer going somewhere else to get what he or she wants…be it ABC or an abortion etc.

Now I could be totally off base and none of this is what D Quintero meant…and if that is the case I am sorry!

Let me put it this way – I can’t solve all the problems of the worlsd by myself, can I?

But I can refuse to commit sins.

Would you them say that since I can’t personally stop abortion, murder, theft and rape I should participate in such acts?

 

[Karin]

vern humphrey:

Let me put it this way – I can’t solve all the problems of the worlsd by myself, can I?

You could try…but in all honesty no not by yourself!
vern humphrey:

But I can refuse to commit sins.

**Sure…no one is debating this point. **

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vern humphrey:

Would you then say that since I can’t personally stop abortion, murder, theft and rape I should participate in such acts?

Not at all.

Vern the point once again is the pharmacist (A) does not fill the prescription for BC due to moral reasons…so consumer goes to pharmacist (B) to get the prescription filled…what the question is, is how do we stop the cycle of refusing something that we are morally opposed to and the consumer going somewhere else to get what he or she wants.…be it ABC or an abortion etc???

 

[vern_humphrey]

Karin:

Vern the point once again is the pharmacist (A) does not fill the prescription for BC due to moral reasons…so consumer goes to pharmacist (B) to get the prescription filled…what the question is, is how do we stop the cycle of refusing something that we are morally opposed to and the consumer going somewhere else to get what he or she wants.…be it ABC or an abortion etc???

How do we stop global warming, violence in the streets, and bad taste in interior decorating?

We start solving problems by personally refusing to participate in the behavior that creates them.

 

[Karin]

vern humphrey:

How do we stop global warming, violence in the streets, and bad taste in interior decorating?

We start solving problems by personally refusing to participate in the behavior that creates them.

Exactly…no debate there.

 

[Katie1723]

Karin:

No that is not true…some pharmacies do not carry all drugs and they are not required to either.

If they have said prescription IN THEIR STOCK, they are INDEED required to fill it, at the risk of losing their job.
~ Kathy ~

 

[Katie1723]

MikeinSD:

… My understanding is that Catholic laws do not pertain to non-Catholics. Let me know if I’m incorrect. But a non-Catholic wants to purchase rubbers (men use birth control too) or birth control pills, he or she is not bound by the laws of a religion that they don’t belong.

You are absolutely correct. That would be like any other religion forcing us to believe what and how they believe.
~ Kathy ~

 

[Karin]

Katie1723:

If they have said prescription IN THEIR STOCK, they are INDEED required to fill it, at the risk of losing their job.

~ Kathy ~

Actually they are not required to …they can refuse to fill it and either give it to another pharmacist in the store to fill or send the person to another pharmacy.

Please see posts #103, #91, #82, #76 that refer to this

 

[Katie1723]

Karin:

Actually they are not required to …they can refuse to fill it and either give it to another pharmacist in the store to fill or send the person to another pharmacy.

Please see posts #103, #91, #82, #76 that refer to this

You really want the last word in this one, don’t you? I suspect no matter what I say, you’ll come back with an answer.That’s ok. I don’t suspect that a pharmacist would jeopardize their job for pills…no matter what they felt. It is a shame however that their are instances where a person can not stand up for their convictions at the risk of losing something valuable. It would be wonderful if they could stand up for what they believe and not risk anything, don’t you think??
~ Kathy ~