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TexasMadness
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Pharmacists and Plan B
Not sure if this is an issue in Europe - I think it's not as I believe this drug has been approved for a much longer time there than in the US.
Plan B is a non-prescription drug that is taken shortly after unprotected sex (72 hours) to reduce the chance of pregnancy by almost 90%. It's the only approved "emergency contraceptive" on the market here. It is kept behind the pharmacist's counter and must be asked for.
Plan B is not RU-486 (the abortion pill) and won't effect a current pregnancy. It works by preventing ovulation, changing the uterine lining to prevent implantation and preventing fertilization in the first place.
A few years ago when Plan B came around, some pharmacists outright refused to sell it to women claiming it was against their religion. Higher courts in several states made rulings all upholding a citizen's right to obtain the drug, but some provided for interesting compromises. In Illinois, a pharmacist can still refuse. However, another employee - a technician, clerk, etc - will call a non-objecting pharmacist and get dispensing directions over the phone so the consumer can still obtain the pill.
Though you may not hear about it a much as a few years ago when the fight first became public, the rules STILL aren't settled. What do you think of the issue?
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7/16/2009, 4:21 pm
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Firlefanz
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
Personally, I think it's just ridiculous that a pharmacist can claim religious feelings to deny a woman this pill. (We call it the "Morning-after-Pill.) He shouldn't be a pharmacist if he can't sell medicine to people who want/need it. Or have you ever heard a pharmacist tell people he can't give them pain meds, because he thinks that pain is important?
Here, we're working hard to keep religion from influencing schools and other areas of civilian life. I doubt a pharmacist could get away with this behaviour in our country.
Basically, in my eyes, it's an expression of fanatic religion. And that is always bad, as it leads to people getting killed or suppressed. Such an expression of fanaticism should simply not be allowed, not even in a roundabout way.
*sigh* It makes me angry, and that's not good.
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7/16/2009, 4:28 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
Firlefanz wrote:
Such an expression of fanaticism should simply not be allowed, not even in a roundabout way.
When this first came out a few years ago, I felt it was ok to let someone refuse as long as the women could still get the pill at the same pharmacy. However, my views have really changed. I have to agree with you here - they are being allowed to show their fanaticism and that is never good, especially when sanctioned by the government.
What if I created my own religion that thought cancer was a noble cause of death and as a doctors, my followers refused to treat cancer patients. Every one of those doctors would have their medical license revoked.
The problem is, people accept established religious views as "facts". Not only that, but they MUST be respected no matter how much the rest of the culture disagrees. I've really started to reassess my feelings on respecting someone's religious views if they interfere with the rights of other humans. I'm reading Richard Dawkins right now and he explains it very well. I'll probably start a topic on that when I'm finished in a few days.
I think that if a pharmacist wants to refuse to dispense ANY medication (all the rulings have been very general about requiring them to administer all meds, not just Plan B) then that pharmacist needs to find a new line of work. If they really truly feel it's against their religion, than they need to distance themselves from the whole affair instead of just making it inconvenient for women to get.
Last edited by TexasMadness, 7/16/2009, 4:41 pm
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7/16/2009, 4:40 pm
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Fenyx
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
does this mean you'd force a doctor to do an abortion? even if they are not an abortion doctor? just cause a pregnant person wanted it? and even if they can get the abortion across the street?
If a pharmacist does not want to sell/dispense this then he should not have to, that is then making the customer force their beliefs onto the pharmacist which is equally as bad in my opinion.
It's rather like smoking. If a store wants to have smoking and posts it so a non-smoker knows what they are walking into - then tough, let them smoke. If it's a non-smoking place, then don't be a customer that expects to smoke. It's too much government intervention.
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7/17/2009, 2:20 am
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TexasMadness
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
But the problem is that there are some town where there is only one pharmacy. That's what started the whole debate. If a person in a rural area needs the pill and they can't get it locally, they might not have the option to drive several hours to another place.
Besides the fact that the Plan B pill does not cause abortion. It PREVENTS pregnancy and does NOTHING to an established pregnancy. So I don't see why it is even a philosophical debate on that point at all. Should a pharmacist be allowed to not dispense ANY birth control pills or condoms? I would hardly think that would fly.
Last edited by TexasMadness, 7/17/2009, 3:28 pm
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7/17/2009, 3:02 pm
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Fenyx
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
His pharmacy - His choice of what to sell.
Customer's choice not to support him with their $$. A pharmacy is business.
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7/17/2009, 5:35 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
Hmmmm...you know, that's a good point. IF the pharmacist owns the place or if he is following the wishes of the owner. I'll have to think about that.
Just because it might be the only grocery in town doesn't mean the owner should be forced by law to carry alcohol if it's against their wishes.
But alcohol, etc. is a minor "want" compared to something as important as contraception.
Ok, but imagine the only trauma hospital in a large area refuses to give x-rays because they think they are mimicking the eyes of God or something. And then a person whose only option is to go to that hospital dies because of a broken bone that led to infection. Hospitals are private business (a lot of the time) too.
The part that really bugs me if that one pharmacy that refuses really is a persons only choice. Then that person can't get the pill and then goes to get an abortion later. Is that really better?
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7/17/2009, 5:41 pm
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Fenyx
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
It keeps the pharmacist living according to his beliefs and not someone elses.
Isn't that what most of the folks here are wanting? to live by their beliefs and not have others force the conventional/Christian beliefs on them?
So it works both ways...
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7/17/2009, 9:13 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
It does work both ways.
If pharmacists refuse, their beliefs are forced on the customer.
If the government makes the pharmacist dispense the pill, their beliefs are forced on the pharmacist.
In the first case, the pharmacist has their sensibilities tarnished and possibly thinks they committed a sin.
In the second case (a worse case version), the women has to have an abortion or give birth to an unwanted child.
Since someone has to be imposed upon here, I guess I lean towards the person who choose to go into a line of work dispensing medications rather than a person who might have been raped or been cautious but had a condom break.
Now, if there are plenty of other options - a pharmacy right across the street - the situation can get a little harder to decide. You then a have person who either has to do something which they consider sinful or have another person be inconvenienced. In that case, I can see how a pharmacist would really argue against a mandatory rule. I might not agree with it, but it becomes a more valid argument at that point (they are PREVENTING the person from getting the pill - just from getting it from them).
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7/17/2009, 9:49 pm
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Fenyx
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Re: Pharmacists and Plan B
"If pharmacists refuse, their beliefs are forced on the customer. "
I don't think so. Just because another pharmacist is not 'convienent" does not make it forced on the customer. It's only force on the customer if he prevents them from exercising their free choice with another pharm. No one was promised a conveient way to not-pg or chemically abort the impregnation process.
And in all this I'm assuming this is due to medical or like rape and not someone not keeping their private parts private and not shared for fun. If fun, then I'd really be upset at a pharm. having to give them that pill.
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7/18/2009, 12:19 am
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