Pharmacists refusing to dispense meds (Plan B) - what other professional

[lindisfarne]

can refuse to fulfill duties which are considered their professional obligation?

Yet another state (Washington) is considering allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense meds (namely morning after pill, or Plan B; see link below): "Pharmacists who object to Plan B want to be able to deny filling a prescription on moral, ethical or religious beliefs."

What other professionals have the right to refuse to do part of their professional duties because they object to that duty on moral, ethical, or religious beliefs? Pharmacists have a choice: either fulfill all their professional duties, or find another job.Al

Would we allow doctors and nurses to refuse to treat patients because they disagree with that patient's lifestyle choices? (I personally don't feel OB/GYNs should have the right to refuse to do abortions - and clearly, for example, in the case of ectopic pregnancies, abortions are done).

Does a doctor have the right to refuse to prescribe Plan B (requested by a patient) because they have a moral objection to it?
Does a doctor have the right to refuse to prescribe birth control to an unmarried patient?
Does a doctor have the right to refuse to prescribe AIDS-related treatment to a man who contracted the disease through homosexual relations (which the dr. feels are immoral)?
Finally, can a doctor justify refusal to treat a patient because that patient is a known homophobe or bigot? (those things are morally reprehensible to me - whereas I have no moral objections to a woman choosing abortion)
Does a medical technician have the right to refuse to run amniocentesis testing because they know that a woman who requests the test is fairly likely to terminate the pregnancy if the test shows some serious problem with the fetus?
Can a public school teacher refuse to teach a child because the child's parents are homosexual (or heterosexual, if the teacher is morally opposed to heterosexuality)?

Allowing professionals to pick and choose which of their professional duties will be fulfilled is a very dangerous practice - if a person cannot meet their professional duties, they should not enter the profession. (I don't feel such refusal is justifiable even when there is an alternative person who can fulfill the duty).
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http://www.komotv.com/stories/42362.htm
""They are really elevating their interests, their personal interests above the needs of the patient," says Nancy Sapiro with the Northwest Women's Law Center. "The regulations that govern pharmacists are very clear that patients' interests come first." "

[smoogatz]

1. Can a bartender who's in recovery refuse to serve alcohol?

Can a Buddhist butcher refuse to sell meat?
Can a pacifist soldier refuse to go to war?
Can a fundamentalist Christian biology teacher refuse to teach evolution?

Just a few off the top of my head...

[RagingInMiami]

2. Can a paramedic refuse to transport a person for whatever reason?

Hell no. That is why along the border many Mexicans who are sick enter the US and dial 911. Federal law requires the paramedics to respond and transport the patient.

[I Have A Dream]

3. If a supermarket clerk is a vegan, should he/she be able to refuse...

to ring up meat, dairy or eggs or any products that have them in?

[Inland]

4. Ill. Sup. Ct refused law license to racist who would not serve blacks

Matthew Hale, now in prison for conspiring to have a federal judge killed, was denied a law license in part because he wanted to solve his little racism problem by saying he wouldn't work for minorities.

[benddem]

5. nurses in the Operating room

have always...or as long as I've been in nursing...been able to opt out of participating in an abortion due to religious grounds. But there are always other nurses in the same department who can be called in to work. You don't have to send them to another hospital.

[Ilsa]

6. I think OB's typically do or attend abortions as part of their

residency, IIRC, if they wish to be boarded in that specialty.

[KT2000]

7. what other professionals??

Doctors will not see people who do not have insurance. Some will not accept Medicare, Medicaid or other government insurance plans.

[left of center]

8. A pharmacist should work according to his or her

industry standards. If another pharmacist is available to give the presciption, then so be it; otherwise, the pharmacist should do his or her job and give the presciption.

This is such a transparent wedge issue!

What is next? Condoms? The pill?

[Sgent]

9. Legally, doctors can refuse to see or treat

any patient they want for any reason EXCEPT for discriminating on the basis of race, religion, national origin, etc. (sexual orientation & sex included in some states, not in others).

Only if there is already an established doctor / patient relationship is there a duty for the doctor to provide for care or referral. Some examples...

1) New patient comes to doctor, and wants birth control. Doctor can refuse to accept person as a patient.

2) Existing patient comes to doctor, requests birth control. Doctor must either refer to another doctor or provide it himself, but is under no obligation to provide it.

3) Existing patient comes to doctor and requests morning after pill. Gray area -- which depends on state laws. In most states doctor would be within his rights to refuse and refer to ER or another physician as long as patient can see other doctor in reasonable ammount of time.

4) #3 where no other doctor is available (rural area). Doctor would most likely be considered abandoning his patient by medical board if he refused treatment on the basis of personal religious beliefs. He may still refuse/refer patient on the basis of expertise (aka, doctor is an oncologist and hasn't dealt with BC issues in 30 years).