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April 26, 2005
Abortionists Ensorcell Pharmacists, Murder Eggs
"The battle over pharmacists' consciences has been building for some time...". That's how the Christian Post spins the Illinois governor's order that pharmacists comply with requests for emergency contraception. You see, it's a little abortion everytime. In cases of rape, broken condoms -- what have you. The law, we're meant to believe, forces Christian pharmacists to murder babies. But selling condoms and birth control makes pharmacists complicit in the spilling of vain seed, in the promotion of sex for purposes other than procreation. And we know that sin is sin. How do I spin the story? A pharmacist has a job to do: dispense drugs. That job has no ethical or moral component. The governor's order is not meant to fight for the conscience of pharmacist's but rather to ensure that those members of a free society who, for whatever reason, have need of a particular drug receive that drug without the morality of a self-righteous pharmacist standing in the way. The Virgina Pilot anticipated the Christian Post and had this to say about the moral conflict between pharamacist and patient: When the two conflict, then professional responsibility tilts toward serving a medical need. Those who cannot live with that standard ought to arrange for someone else to provide the service. posted by Dennis on 04.26.05 at 08:33 AM
Comments
I'm afraid I disagree with you on this one, Dennis -- although I do strongly believe there should be no law barring abortion or birth control. But nor should these pharmacist be forced by law to violate their own faiths. I recently had a bit of fun with a piece Paul Krugman wrote for the NYTs in which he branded these "conscientious objector" pharmacists as an example of “domestic extremism.” Krugman wrote: "Yesterday The Washington Post reported on the growing number of pharmacists who, on religious grounds, refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control or morning-after pills. These pharmacists talk of personal belief; but the effect is to undermine laws that make these drugs available. And let me make a prediction: soon, wherever the religious right is strong, many pharmacists will be pressured into denying women legal drugs." I know exactly what Krugman is talking about; one of the closest grocery stores to my home is a so-called “vegan” establishment. These radicals on “philosophical” grounds refuse to sell me bacon. Now, these grocers talk of personal belief; but the effect is to undermine laws that make bacon available. And let me make a prediction: soon, wherever the loony-Left is strong, many grocers will be pressured into denying men legal bacon. I came up with a few more asinine examples of domestic extremism here. Todd · April 26, 2005 02:06 PM |
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Actually, Dennis, this "controversy" about pharmacists being able to recuse themselves from dispensing drugs they have a religious conviction about is not new. It first became a bone of contention when Oregon passed its assisted suicide statutes and pharmacists insisted they did not want to be forced to participate.
The APhA ethical guidelines allow for pharmacists to bow out as long as the patient is no unreasonably burdened (another pharmacist/pharmacy to fill the order) and Fed Title VII also states that a person's religious convictions must be reasonably accomodated.
A pharmacist is under no more obligation to dispense a drug they object to than a doctor has to provide a non-emergency procedure they object to.