OT Birth Control

[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.

[mimitabby]

yeah, what's next; "I don't believe in ritalin, sorry; i won't give you your kid's prescription" ??!?!?

In the state of washington there has been a huge hullabaloo about this. and there IS no embryo "the morning after".
The good news is; this pill might become an over the counter item to circumvent this problem.

[eclectic]

A lot of pharmacies around here are running at a pretty marginal profit AND we are only 50 miles from Canada. I think it would be suicide for them to refuse on moral grounds.
If a pharmacy refused to fill anything I would take my business elsewhere which is very easy to do, they would be losing a lot as I am on some very expensive asthma meds.

But if they want to go broke on moral grounds so be it.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Right on to all that - about pharmacist's duty being to fill your prescription, NOT to make some sort of moronic moral judgement about whether you should or shouldn't take a given medication.

I've been involved with planned parenthood in the past and think it is a terrific organization. Giving access to resources for the community and especially for low-cost birth control/contraceptives as well as GYN services.

[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!