Selling Contraception

[Rosie123]

Hi,

This is actually my first time posting at Catholic Forums but I am really interested to know if anyone has any advice.

I’m a Catholic who has just started studying pharmacy at university. My goal is to become an oncology pharmacist and work with those suffering from cancer. However, in order to attain this position I will have to do some work in a community pharmacy and where I live the morning after pill is able to sold without prescription just like paracetamol. Can I morally work as a pharmacy assistant before completing my degree if I will be asked to sell these drugs? Plan B still requires a prescription so that isn’t a problem at the moment but can I still work there if the morning after pill is available so readily?

Thank you so much,
God Bless

 

[1ke]

I suggest you join both the Catholic Medical Association and Pharmacists for Life. They can help you understand your rights to religious conscience exemption and accomodation regarding selling/dispensing contraceptive and abortifacient items. I think both groups have student memberships.

Yes, you need to refrain from these items, but that should not interfere with your ability to do your internship and receive your degree.

The first step is knowing your rights under the law and how to navigate these situations.

 

[sw85]

Hi,

This is actually my first time posting at Catholic Forums but I am really interested to know if anyone has any advice.

I’m a Catholic who has just started studying pharmacy at university. My goal is to become an oncology pharmacist and work with those suffering from cancer. However, in order to attain this position I will have to do some work in a community pharmacy and where I live the morning after pill is able to sold without prescription just like paracetamol. Can I morally work as a pharmacy assistant before completing my degree if I will be asked to sell these drugs? Plan B still requires a prescription so that isn’t a problem at the moment but can I still work there if the morning after pill is available so readily?

Thank you so much,
God Bless

Yes, this is a tricky situation, and I don’t know that anyone here is qualified to give you legal advice. Especially since the law very likely varies by state. The best I can say is, make clear your objections to your placement advisor and ask them to arrange for you to be placed somewhere where this will not be a problem for you.

 

[RHannosh619]

I work at a CVS pharmacy, and as much as I’ve tried looking into the laws and all of that that protect pharmacist, I still think it is virtually inevitable to not dispense birth control. Usually, when at work, there is me, another tech, and 1 pharmacist. If I’m working on the “pickup” side, I have to give the patient what they came to get, and many times its birth control.

I really, really, really HATE selling planB though, when it comes to that, I think I can easily manage to have someone else actually sell it to the patient.

but then again, is it really necessary? As my profession(future pharmacist), this is part of the job as a pharmacist, to verify and fill these drugs. I also don’t believe in forcing my beliefs on somebody else. If somebody chooses to use BC to prevent pregnancy, there gonna use it, regardless of whether or not they get it from me.

Now of course, I tell myself If I ever owned my own pharmacy then surely I will not have that, but if not, then I don’t really have the choice, it’s going to be my job.

 

[RHannosh619]

Of course you must keep in mind that BC pushing isn’t the entirety of my job. This is just 1 small aspect of the other benefits and whatnot that come from pharmacy.

I’m just mentioning that before someobody states, “If your a doctor and you abort babies “because its your job” does that make it ok?”

Of course not, because the abortionist’s job is entirely to do such things, whereas my future pharmacist job only has this 1 aspect of unfortunate sinfulness, but it doesn’t define pharmacy.

 

[Rosie123]

Thank you for your repsonses everyone. I will look into Pharmacists for Life. I live in Australia so I’ll see if we have an equivalent Catholic Medical Assosication. In a country where there is almost no debate on contraception and abortion (we rarely ever hear about these issues) it’s very difficult to ascertain my rights. I know I have the right to conscientious objection and I’m hoping to be placed in a hopsital/aged care for my internship (thankfully a few years away, I’ve really only just started studying) where contraception should be much less of an issue. I do plan on speaking to the course coordinator to make clear my position when the oppurtunity presents itself.

Thank you again for your responses,
God Bless

 

[Christopher68]

As my profession(future pharmacist), this is part of the job as a pharmacist, to verify and fill these drugs. I also don’t believe in forcing my beliefs on somebody else.

The two sentences that you wrote above are the crux of the matter. The customers of the pharmacy expect to receive proper services from a pharmacy - not a lecture or a denial of services. Your second sentence shows that you have this in the proper perspective. For those in that profession who think differently, perhaps they should have considered their chosen profession more carefully.

 

[Rosie123]

For those in that profession who think differently, perhaps they should have considered their chosen profession more carefully.

Why should pharmacists be denied the right to conscientiously object? They are health care professionals just as much as nurses and doctors yet we understand they have a right not to be involved in abortions. Pharmacists may be the ones that stick the labels on (and that may be all society thinks they do) but they have many responsibilities which involve patient counselling and they are the medication experts. Often doctors will prescribe an incorrect dosage. Pharmacists are not merely salespeople. They have the right not to be associated with particular drigs (eg plan B). What I’m merely asking is that if the simplest form of the morning after pill is sold over the counter (as it is in Australia) how do I explain I don’t want to sell it if any non-pharmacist can also sell it.

 

[RHannosh619]

I used to be just like you until I actually started working in a pharmacy and realized hey this really isn’t possible. I think it might be possible to not be associated with plan B because its OTC, but birth control def you will have to fill/dispense.

Since plan B is over the counter, you as a pharmacist will virtually never physically “sell it” or have any part in it other then ordering it for the pharmacy. The pharmacy technician is going to have to do the selling.

but let’s talk about birth control too…

Look, as devout Catholic as we all are, it’s not worth risking our job, or reputation(in the case of future jobs), over something that’s not our choice, nor sin.

I like the “idea” of being able to conscientiously object and believe me I would, but in the real world, it doesn’t work like that. You don’t want to be known professionally as “that pharmacist” because companies don’t want to work with the “hassle”.

Imagine going into a Mcdonalds to get your favorite hamburger, but the person there says Nope, can’t get that for you, I believe everyone should be vegetarian so you have to get a salad.

It’s not right for anybody to forcible impose there beliefs on anybody else. Obviously, Pharmacy is not a field which is intrinsically evil, as the profession itself is not sinful(contrary to strippers, drug dealers, abortionists’s)

Unfortunately, birth control is part of the profession, and unless we own our own pharmacy, there’s no changing that.

 

[seanpatrick]

I am trying to articulate, for myself - not by myself (I have the Church, including a priestly spiritual director, a Parish family, a wife, a family, good friends and, above all Jesus Christ) - a way of thinking/feeling/acting when faced with other folk’s scrupulosity regarding my profession, pharmacy.

I am familiar with Church teachings on contraception. Deeply familiar. My wife and I do not use artificial contraception - we practice NFP. I see the effect that its (artificial contraception) widespread use has had, and is having, on our world. I am dead set against abortion and the use of abortifacient drugs, which includes many oral contraceptives. I defend the unborn.

Regarding Catholic pharmacists - and other Catholics - who advocate an absolute “no!” when it comes to handling and dispensing these molecules (contraceptives) I say that they are deserters - cowards, perhaps - in this battle. This battle " against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

In the Apostle’s Creed we say of Our Lord, " He descended into Hell."

Our Lord also said, while being nailed to His Cross, " Forgive them Father, they know not what they do. "

Saint Paul wrote, " Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

In 350 A.D., St. Cyril of Jerusalem gave a series of lectures during Easter week to the newly initiated members of the Church. He spoke on the liturgical ceremonies of the three sacraments which they had received during the Easter Vigil. When speaking on Confirmation, he stated:

Just as Christ, after His baptism and the coming upon Him of the Holy Spirit went forth and defeated the adversary, so also with you. After holy Baptism and the Mystical Chrism, having put on the full suit of armor of the Holy Spirit, you are to withstand the power of the adversary, and defeat him, saying, ‘I am able to do all things in Christ, Who strengthens me.’

So I don’t quit my job. I don’t pass-off the handling of certain medications to the “reprobate”. I pray the Rosary every morning, I ask the Holy Spirit to inform me, to Live in me. I ask my Mother in Heaven and my Guardian Angel to remind me that I am always speaking in the presence of God. I say the prayer to Saint Michael. And I ask my Lord and Saviour to Live in me. I frequent Confession and attend Mass and receive the Holy Eucharist as often as possible.

And I remember that God is Love and that his creation is Good. Our original parents were tempted by the ancient serpent, in the garden. They had a choice - so do we once we know better. Adam and Eve knew better because our Father educated them. But He did not make a “safe” garden. He respected our free will too much for that. The world outside the garden is dangerous, too, no matter where we hide. Worse, actually, than the Garden with the serpent : it’s a fallen garden now and the serpent and his kind are everywhere, ruining everything, spoiling communication, destroying our relations to one another. But life is Good. And only Good, in the end.

I walk to my dispensary counter and pray for the grace to make clear to my client - in a firm and loving way - exactly WHAT it is he/she is buying, WHAT it really does to his/her body (evidence based medicine), how it has - and can - effect society as a whole and then I LET THEM CHOOSE.

Most will make the right choice, ONCE THEY KNOW.

I try to engage “sinners”, being one myself - one trying to emulate his innocent Lord, Who neither ran from nor scorned a repentant sinner. How can you repent - or turn from evil - if you are ignorant? Christ only condemned the sinners - like the Pharisees - who knew the Law, and remained unrepentant.

Nothing irks me more than to be lectured by some fellow parishioner just returned from a “faith cruise” or an “inter-diocese golf classic”, tanned and driving a luxury SUV, about “moral theology”. I think, " How about that investment portfolio? Any money being made from shares in companies perpetuating evil - including companies who make drugs? Do you use coupons to save money at a pharmacy that sells Plan-B ? "

This whole world is awash in sin. We need to meet it. Engage it in - and with - our brothers and sisters. Not abandon them and run for safety. Neither Our Lord nor His Blessed Mother deserted their posts.