OT Birth Control

[KSH]

This one drives me crazy, so I won't rant as long as I'd like to, but...

It obviously doesn't occur to some people that there are lots of reasons why someone would take birth control pills. In my case, it's because I tend to get very anemic and would prefer not to lose the extra blood. I'm sure other people have reasons as well that have nothing to do with offending certain pharmacists' "morals."

argh.

Tell me about it!

I would bleed 20 out of 30 days if it weren't for the depo shot I get from Planned Parenthood.

Not to mention, I don't want kids... ever.

[Lise]

I am a licensed health care provider (Certified Nurse Midwife). I have a state and a federal license to prescribe certain medications. *I* prescribe. They (the pharmacists) *dispense*. If they don't want to *dispense* what I prescribe, perhaps they should get a new career.

I've worked for Planned Parenthood. Not free, but certainly affordable contraceptive and basic gyne care.

[massbikebabe]

Lise;

I agree whole heartedly!!! One of the most popular, (and first), prescriptions I ever wrote was for the morning after pill. I was raised Catholic, I remain Catholic but who the hell am I to force motherhood on anyone If these pharmacists don't want to fill effective and safe contraceptive prescriptions than they need to get out of the business...or do like I do...bless yourself everytime you take a pill!!


karen
can you tell this topic rocks my world

[Kitsune06]

Stupid bill. I agree. They were there when I was 17, stupid, and needed Plan B, they were there when I was 18 and wanted to be careful and used Depo (ok, not so smart knowing what I know now, but it works for some)
I have no idea how some people can be so morally wrapped up in such silly things. BC prevents abortions (among other awful things). Kids aren't going to stop having sex because they don't have BC or condoms, they're just going to do it anyway and act all surprised when they're 15 and pregnant, then run to Planned Parenthood or someone else for an abortion- something rapidly becoming more and more difficult to come by.

Naturally, I have pretty decent BC reassurance, but the whole concept upsets me. It's like denying someone insulin because you don't personally believe man should try to keep someone alive who would otherwise die.

...okay, that's as political as I'll get. I get all upset etc over this stuff, and inevitably nothing will change anyway but my blood pressure.

[pooks]

A very popular OB-Gyn amongst my friends was Catholic and didn't prescribe birth control. On the other hand, he had his patients schedule their BC appts. with one of his partners who did prescribe. They adored the guy, didn't mind having his partner handle the birth control issues, and thought he showed a lot of integrity.

I went to him a few times after my BC had been permanently arranged, ahem. I liked him and could see why they thought he was worth the extra effort.

BUT -- that's the difference between a doctor who knows you intimately (ahem, ahem) and a pharmacist who, as has been said, "dispenses."

And to keep the prescription? Outrageous.

[donnambr]

I think my girlfriend who is a pharmacist put it well when she said, "So I think obese people are committing the sin of gluttony and their high blood pressure is a punishment from God. Now I can refuse to fill their prescriptions for beta blockers!"

So if you're looking for a pharmacist in Bellevue, WA who'd never refuse to fill anything legal, PM me...

[tomgrrrl]

They get a license, it's their job to fill prescriptions, no "ifs, ands or buts!" If they don't like filling certain prescriptions, they need to look for work elsewhere.....imho.

[DDH]

I remember this issue coming up about a year or more ago. Some pharmacist decided it was against his morals to fill the morning after pill because he felt he was helping with aborting a fetus. So that was the only thing I was ever aware of that they were having issues with. I guess they have taken it a step further now. Wonder what will be next?

[Bikingmomof3]

They get a license, it's their job to fill prescriptions, no "ifs, ands or buts!" If they don't like filling certain prescriptions, they need to look for work elsewhere.....imho.

I feel the same way.

[Pyannyplayer]

I'm Catholic and am on birth control....for the next year....without taking the placebos (can we say that I'm pretty excited that I won't have a period for the next year!!). I'm taking them because the uterine wall is enlarged (I had a biopsy - no cancer, but my cells are "disorganized"). This is to help shrink the uterine wall and hopefully avoid further treatment. Why should a pharmacist decide if I should have my prescription? He may or may not know why I'm taking it. Golly.

I feel that I shouldn't be forcing my beliefs on anyone else nor should anyone force theirs on me. We're all old enough to decide for ourselves and we have to live with those decisions.

Just my two cents worth.

Lorie

[doc]

I think my girlfriend who is a pharmacist put it well when she said, "So I think obese people are committing the sin of gluttony and their high blood pressure is a punishment from God. Now I can refuse to fill their prescriptions for beta blockers!"

Well put!!

I get absolutely NUTSO when I hear crud like this. People pushing their personal moral agenda on complete strangers. If you won't dispense pills you should get FIRED. That's your job. If you want to pass judgment on others, and force your will onto them as well, then you need higher powers.

PS Planned parenthood is a wonderful organization (regardless of one's opinion on abortion). Yes tehy provide abortion, but their goal is prevention. They help out zillions of women who don't have the wherewithall to take care of their gyn health and take control of their lives/futures by having only PLANNED PARENTHOOD. No "whoops".

[SalsaMTB]

Seems like it would be pretty tough for a pharmacist who refuses to fill certain perscriptions to get a job. Not sure if denying them the position because of it would be illegal due to moral beliefs/descrimination, but they are also unable to meet the requirements of their job. If I owned a pharmacy, I wouldn't hire someone who refused to fill a perscription that I we be getting money from every single month!

Guess it's a good thing I don't own a pharmacy!