State druggists want right to say "no" to certain medications (WA State)

[Evergreen Emerald]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002858143_pharmacy11m.html

A proposal would allow druggists to refuse to dispense medications because of personal beliefs.

(snip)

At the heart of the debate is a proposal put forward by the pharmacy association, a private trade group, that would allow pharmacists to act as "conscientious objectors" when faced with filling prescriptions that go against their moral or religious principles and require them to provide patients with other "options."

Gov. Christine Gregoire sent a letter opposing the proposal to the Pharmacy Board.

"This issue goes far beyond women's access to contraception, but appeals to the right of all patients to have their prescription filled without judgment or discrimination," wrote Gregoire.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I look at it this way

When we had the draft, men had the right to conscientious objector status, because theoretically every male was "called up". But now that we have an all volunteer military, there's no need for a conscientious objector status. The last I heard, everyone wasn't "drafted" into becoming a phramacist. If someone has a problem dispensing drugs, they shouldn't be in the profession. I doubt if there are any Christian Scientists who are pharmacists.

[MichiganVote]

2. And I look at it this way...the day they refuse Viagra or Cialis or

condoms for men, is the day I'll believe this is not discrimination aimed squarely at women in this society.

[XanaDUer]

3. To all those pharms...

AGAIN-You have NO RIGHTS at work. You are a mere cog in the wheels of America's businesses...shut the fuck up and work and do what you are told.

Also-no one made you a pharmacist. You should have known all about things like rubbers and the pill , etc., before you went into the pill trade.

[Evergreen Emerald]

6. I was struck by the last line of the article

it was a 23 year old student at UW who said she should not have to leave her morals at home. She is making the choice to be a pharmacist. Perhaps she should head to admissions office.

[Trillo]

4. Why do we need pharmacists to dispense them?

Get rid of the "legal need" for prescriptions for non-addictive medicines, problem solved. Pharmacists can still stock the shelves....

[XanaDUer]

5. And there are robotic pharms, too

The McKesson robot is one-dispenses meds with nary a question about them and no moralizing...as a good pharmacist should.

[jwirr]

7. Pre-Roe vs Wade doctors often rejected patients for religious

reasons. Catholic doctors did not help women or men with birth control devices. We knew it and went to non-catholic docs. However when Wal-Mart is the only game in town where else is a woman supposed to go?

[Bjornsdotter]

8. Does this apply for all professions?

For example...can a vegetarian grocery store employee refuse to sell someone meat? After all, they are only following their beliefs.

Cheers

[niyad]

9. anybody who has a "moral objection" to dispensing certain drugs needs

to be in another profession, PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION.