Pharmacist "Unconscience" Clause
Here, here to the American Medical Association. In light of this "conscientious objection" crap, the AMA has finally said, "Enough is enough!" This past spring this so-called "pharmacist conscience clause" got a lot of press. Apparently there is a group of pharmacists that feel that they should push their personal beliefs on people instead of practice pharmacy. This entails Catholic pharmacists having the RIGHT to refuse birth control prescriptions, and pro-life supporters to refuse Plan B prescriptions. This group of pharmacists has apparently decided to through "patient care" out the window and stomp all over the sacred "patient-physician" relationship. In response to this "conscience clause," The AMA decided last week to draft and adopt a policy that directly addresses this "objection." The new policy supports legislation that would require pharmacists to fill all valid prescriptions or immediately refer patients to another pharmacist; directs the AMA to enter into discussions with pharmacy organizations concerning matters of conscience; and in the absence of all other remedies, to work with state medical societies to adopt state legislation allowing physicians to dispense medication when there is no pharmacist willing to dispense the medication within a thirty mile radius. Since pharmacists are no longer able to "police" themselves, I think it's high time that another medical profession stepped up and slapped us in the face. Let's hope APhA follows suit...however I'm not holding my breath. APhA has been pussy-footing around this issue since January. It's a sad state of affairs when a pharmacist can tell a patient they won't fill their prescription because it's immoral. With policies like these, it's not wonder we're not getting respect from physicians.
Along these same lines, I noticed today at my rotation site that Plan B is conspicuously absent from their stock shelves. However, generic Cytotec is kept in stock by the hundreds. Today I found out why. I took a prescription from a doctor's office for "Cytotec 100mcg - Take 4 as a single dose in the physician's office." As soon as I read it, I knew what it was being used for; however, the pharmacist I was working with was at a loss. She was highly concerned about such a high dose. Finally, I looked at her and said, "It's not being used for ulcer prevention and it certainly isn't being used for cervical ripening. It's being used to terminate an early term pregnancy." The light clicked on in her head and it finally made sense to her. I had no problem whatsoever dispensing the medicine - and apparently neither did the pharmacist. However, I do find it a bit odd that a pharmacy that refuses to stock Plan B will dispense Cytotec...a drug strikingly similar to RU-486.
Along these same lines, I noticed today at my rotation site that Plan B is conspicuously absent from their stock shelves. However, generic Cytotec is kept in stock by the hundreds. Today I found out why. I took a prescription from a doctor's office for "Cytotec 100mcg - Take 4 as a single dose in the physician's office." As soon as I read it, I knew what it was being used for; however, the pharmacist I was working with was at a loss. She was highly concerned about such a high dose. Finally, I looked at her and said, "It's not being used for ulcer prevention and it certainly isn't being used for cervical ripening. It's being used to terminate an early term pregnancy." The light clicked on in her head and it finally made sense to her. I had no problem whatsoever dispensing the medicine - and apparently neither did the pharmacist. However, I do find it a bit odd that a pharmacy that refuses to stock Plan B will dispense Cytotec...a drug strikingly similar to RU-486.
posted by ahsirt at 8:50 PM
3 Comments:
Should I, as a real estate appraiser, be able to sabotage your mortgage because I have a moral objection to how you plan to spend the proceeds? Should a judge be able to set aside the guilty plea in the Eric Rudolph case because he feels that Rudolph was morally justified in bombing an abortion clinic? Should teachers be permitted to arbitrarily alter set cirriculum to fit their particular moral beliefs? Should a policeman be able to walk away from a domestic violence call because he felt the woman wasn't "obeying" her husband according to his moral code? Should firemen be permitted to stand around as the racetrack burns to the ground because they have a moral objection to gambling?
All of this is beyond ridiculous. These are LEGAL medications, approved by the FDA, and prescribed by a doctor. Why stop at filling the morning after pill. Why should a pharmacist have to fill a prescription for a black person, or a Latino? They should just refer them to a pharmacist who doesn't have a moral objection to brown skinned people.
Apparently the pharmecist feel secure in their jobs to practice their own value system. Will the spirits above look favorably on them when they are unemployeed or should we as tax payers be expected to support thier welfare needs because of their "Higher Purpose"?
You are complaining about a few pharmacist who have "moral objections", they are the little fish. Wal-Mart will not allow their pharmacies to carry Plan B. They will not allow them to even order it in no matter whether the pharmacist wants to or not. Since when do corporations get to dictate moral values? Especially a corporation which does not pay a living wage, especially a corporation who will not offer affordable healthcare, but will help their employees sign up for medicaid. As far as I'm concerned these religious zealots need to be more out front, let them continue to tell other people how to run their lives and let them continue to grow the connection with the Republicans. It can only help us in the long run. I think they should have to wear a button that says I am against Birth Control and I voted for Bush. Or You are morally bankrupt, my Bible tells me so. (That last one made me laugh out loud)
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