Pharmacists? Maybe. It Depends.
The governor of Illinois has issued an emergency rule requiring pharmacists to fill all birth control prescriptions. This is the result of the increasing complaints about pharmacists refusing to fill birth control prescriptions because of “moral” objections. This rule also establishes a toll-free number for reporting pharmacists who refuse to comply.
This emergency rule takes effect immediately and will last 150 days. Hopefully, a permanent version of the law will be passed during this period.
It’s too bad they need a law to spell out the obvious. But if too many pharmacists are confused about what their job entails (filling medical prescriptions) and doesn’t entail (a Bible lesson), then the obvious needs to be spelled out.
Usually the offending pharmacist will refer the customer to another pharmacist who’s willing to do his/her assigned job. But there have been cases where the pharmacist not only refuses to provide the medication, but holds onto the prescription as well. Assholes like that should be locked up for a looong time.
There are no federal laws requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions. Four states — Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia and South Dakota — have laws specifically allowing pharmacists to refuse prescriptions. Eleven states are considering laws to allow pharmacists to shirk their responsibilities; and California, New Jersey and Missouri are considering laws to require pharmacists to earn their salaries by performing their jobs.
You wouldn’t go to a church and ask the minister to fill your medical prescription; and you don’t expect a pharmacist to refuse your prescription while giving you a sermon. What’s complicated about this?
posted by Tom Harper @ 12:21 AM
6 Comments:
If a pharmacist refused to fill my g/f's birth control pill prescription, and then refused to give the prescription back... I would have to assume that I need to go take out a bail bond loan for my g/f.
Seriously, though. If you get into the medical field, it's not your job to pick and choose who you want to help based on how you view them morally. This opens a whole slippery slope of issues. In Michigan they are reviewing legislation that allows doctors to refuse service based on moral grounds. Imagine an AIDS patient goes to the emergency room with a life threatening injury but the resident surgeon refuses to treat him because homosexuality is against his religious views.
OK Democrat: That's true, it sure isn't very Christian to not fill somebody's medical prescription. Nobody's going to spread Christianity by forcing it on people.
Drew: You're right. With any job (but especially the medical field) it's either check your moral beliefs at the door, or hit the road. I have all the respect in the world for people who feel so strongly about an issue that they're willing to quit their job over it. But it's one or the other--you can't work someplace and then decide who you'll help and who you won't.
On the other hand we once more have the government demanding peple leave ethics and morals (very subjective terms) and do what is demanded by others. I will say the pharmacist keeping my script might find me dragging him over the counter but I would simply take my business elsewhere if simply refused service.
In 1973 I went to a local (3 blocks away) burger joint. The woman behind the counter was very rude and and have not been back since. Didn't need the govt. to make the woman be nice to me.
Prying1: In general I agree with you that taking your business elsewhere is more effective than government intervention. But for something medical, it's a little more urgent and important than just buying something in a store or restaurant.
If someone's job conflicts with his/her moral beliefs, that person should choose: the job or the convictions. It makes no sense to be getting paid for doing a job, and then only doing it when it doesn't conflict with your morals.
Good comments all!
Rod Blagejovich for President in 2008.
Snave: Blagejovich -- we could do worse.
OK Democrat: It's too bad that so many people who call themselves "Christian" are so selective about which Bible quotes to remember.
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