sorry, i don't believe in penicillin.
On Oct. 5, the Wyoming State Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to consider a set of amended rules that includes a provision that would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions based on personal beliefs as long as they tell patients where they could have their prescriptions filled. State pharmacy board Executive Director Jim Carder said the board wants to give a pharmacist the right to not fill a prescription but still "protect the patient" by requiring the pharmacist to say where the prescription could be filled. "Personal ideas come into what you do," Carder said, adding, "That's just the way life is."
hmm. . .how about this - if you don't "believe in" trusted, proven medical science, don't become a pharmacist. just a thought.
posted by kg @ 10:57 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
hi future pharmacist here...
the issue is not about dispensing penicillin. The issue is that some do not want to dispense medications that are against their personal beliefs. Do I agree with this? No. However, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. Keep in mind that physicians are able to refuse to write prescriptions for anything they may choose. Pharmacists are supposed to be there to make sure the patient is getting the correct drug to treat there condition because as we all know sometimes doctors make mistakes. This issue is a little different but you get the just. Please don't bash my profession. Thanks
hi jillene. thanks for your comment. first off, please let me say that i in no way meant for my post to be "bashing" your profession, and i am sorry if it came off that way. and, i respect your position on the issue. however, i have a couple of things to say in response:
the title of the post was meant sarcastically. you are right - this issue is not about penicillin. it is about creating barriers to obtaining a few specific provenly safe and effective medications (particularly contraceptives and emergency contraception). these laws have hugely disproportionate impact on women, and poor women in particular, who may not have the time or money to go pharmacy to pharmacy looking for someone who will help them. this is particularly the case with emergency contraception, when time is of the essence.
and, i am not sure i agree with your statement about the role of pharmacists. sure, when there is a possible error such as an incorrect dosage or a possible contra-indication, it is the pharmacist's responsibility to discuss it with the doctor and figure out the right course of action. But it is not the pharmacist's job to decide what the "correct drug" is to treat a person's condition, when that person has already gone to their doctor, discussed the matter, and gotten a prescription from the doctor. pharmacists provide great service to their clients, giving advice, answering questions, and, sometimes, catching errors made by doctors. but they should not be in the position to act as gatekeeper or as a barrier to a person getting the medications both they and their doctor have agreed they need.
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