| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Fredric L. Rice" |
| Date: |
04 Apr 2005 04:22:07 AM |
| Object: |
New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
Scattered reports suggest that a growing number of pharmacists around
the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives or
morning-after birth control pills because of moral or religious
objections.
Although the refusals are cast as important matters of conscience for
self-described "pro-life" pharmacists, they have the pernicious effect
of delaying, and sometimes even denying, a woman's access to
medications that may be urgently needed.
This is an intolerable abuse of power by pharmacists who have no
business forcing their own moral or ethical views onto customers who
may not share them.
Any pharmacist who cannot dispense medicines lawfully prescribed by a
doctor should find another line of work.
Incidents in which pharmacists have refused to dispense contraceptives
or morning-after pills have been reported for well over a decade, but
the number may be rising.
By one count there were some 180 reports of refusals in a six-month
period last year, some describing earlier incidents, and the number is
likely to grow now that religious conservatives are flexing their
muscles in many spheres of life.
An organization of antiabortion pharmacists is pushing for
professional associations and state legislatures to adopt "conscience
clauses" recognizing the pharmacist's right to refuse to dispense a
drug or even refer the customer to a pharmacist who will; many
pharmacy associations have already adopted such clauses.
Several states have laws granting pharmacists the right to refuse, and
legislators in at least 10 states are pushing similar legislation.
Meanwhile, legislators in other states are trying to force pharmacists
to fill valid prescriptions, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois,
responding to a Chicago pharmacist's recent refusal to provide
contraceptives to two women, issued a rule on Friday that pharmacies
must fill contraceptive prescriptions without delay.
The nationwide struggle was described in a Washington Post article
last Monday.
The most responsible conscience clauses try to balance the rights of
the pharmacist and the rights of the clients by insisting that steps
be taken to ensure patient access to legally prescribed therapy,
either through another pharmacist at the same store or through another
pharmacy.
That may seem at first blush like a reasonable compromise but it is a
prescription for disaster in the real world.
To begin with, some pharmacists are so certain of their moral high
ground that they berate, belittle or lecture their customers.
They are not likely to be helpful in guiding patients to alternative
supplies of medications that they deem evil.
Worse yet, if this movement picks up steam, right-to-life groups in
some areas may pressure one pharmacy after another to refuse service,
leaving a diminished pool of pharmacies available to fill
prescriptions for birth control purposes.
It is disheartening that Wal-Mart, for some years now, has refused to
stock the morning-after pill.
In rural areas there may not be another pharmacy nearby, so customers
who are turned away may go without the medication or waste time
finding another pharmacy.
In the case of the morning-after pills, which work best in the first
12 to 24 hours after a sexual encounter, delay could render the
treatment ineffective.
Indeed, pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for morning-after
pills are inadvertently strengthening the case for providing them as
nonprescription medicines on the open shelves.
Such availability would allow women to get the pills promptly without
going first to a doctor and then to a potentially obstructionist
pharmacist.
---
http://www.ElmerFudd.US/ http://www.notserver.com/
Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
Scientology murder: http://PerkinsTragedy.org
Improving the herd: http://www.rightard.org/
http://www.religiousfreedomwatch.org/extremists/ricef.html
.
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| User: "Mark Stahl" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
06 Apr 2005 04:05:09 AM |
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"Fredric L. Rice" <FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote in message
news:1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com...
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
I simply cannot imagine how pissed I would be if my patients could not get
meds I prescribed because some dipshit pharmacist just refused to count out
the pills.
.
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| User: "Fredric L. Rice" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
07 Apr 2005 02:02:34 AM |
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"Mark Stahl" <stahl@nospam.aecom.yu.edu> wrote:
"Fredric L. Rice" <FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote in message
news:1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com...
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
I simply cannot imagine how pissed I would be if my patients could not get
meds I prescribed because some dipshit pharmacist just refused to count out
the pills.
It should be illegal to deny customers specific legal products. Of
course it shouldn't be illegal to deny serving specific _individuals_
since stores should retain the right to refuse to serve anyone if they
so choose, but failing to dispense medicines should be grounds for the
individual facing fines and jail.
---
http://www.ElmerFudd.US/ http://www.notserver.com/
Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
Scientology murder: http://PerkinsTragedy.org
Improving the herd: http://www.rightard.org/
http://www.religiousfreedomwatch.org/extremists/ricef.html
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
07 Apr 2005 04:45:52 PM |
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On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 00:05:09 -0400, "Mark Stahl"
<stahl@nospam.aecom.yu.edu> wrote:
"Fredric L. Rice" <FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote in message
news:1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com...
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
I simply cannot imagine how pissed I would be if my patients could not get
meds I prescribed because some dipshit pharmacist just refused to count out
the pills.
Doctors offices might start issuing those medications.
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
.
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| User: "The Arch Atheist" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
06 Apr 2005 11:59:41 AM |
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On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 00:05:09 -0400, "Mark Stahl"
<stahl@nospam.aecom.yu.edu> wrote:
I simply cannot imagine how pissed I would be if my patients could not get
meds I prescribed because some dipshit pharmacist just refused to count out
the pills.
Certainly it's cause to get them fired. Is it not? Statuate some
examples, and I'm sure it'll go away pretty quick. Jesesfreaks are
only as moral as their pocketbooks allow.
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| User: "Sean C" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
04 Apr 2005 05:51:00 PM |
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In article <1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com>, Fredric L. Rice
<FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote:
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
Scattered reports suggest that a growing number of pharmacists around
the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives or
morning-after birth control pills because of moral or religious
objections.
Although the refusals are cast as important matters of conscience for
self-described "pro-life" pharmacists, they have the pernicious effect
of delaying, and sometimes even denying, a woman's access to
medications that may be urgently needed.
I think both pharmacists and their employers need to recognize that
their industry only exists through government fiat. Do away with the
requirement that people must obtain prescriptions and go to licensed
pharmacies to get things like birth control pills and the market will
very quickly create cheaper and more cooperative alternatives. So long
as the government uses its power to create profitable monopolies in any
sector of the health industry, government should have the right to
force pharmacists and their employers to fill scripts for things like
birth control pills, narcotics or anything else they're "morally"
opposed to or face stiff penalties and loss of their licenses.
What's next, Christian Scientists refusing to fill *any* prescriptions?
Sean C
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| User: "Mark Stahl" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
06 Apr 2005 04:03:19 AM |
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"Sean C" <redhawk@burnspammersalive.com> wrote in message
news:040420051251008236%redhawk@burnspammersalive.com...
In article <1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com>, Fredric L. Rice
<FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote:
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
Scattered reports suggest that a growing number of pharmacists around
the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives or
morning-after birth control pills because of moral or religious
objections.
Although the refusals are cast as important matters of conscience for
self-described "pro-life" pharmacists, they have the pernicious effect
of delaying, and sometimes even denying, a woman's access to
medications that may be urgently needed.
I think both pharmacists and their employers need to recognize that
their industry only exists through government fiat. Do away with the
requirement that people must obtain prescriptions and go to licensed
pharmacies to get things like birth control pills and the market will
very quickly create cheaper and more cooperative alternatives. So long
as the government uses its power to create profitable monopolies in any
sector of the health industry, government should have the right to
force pharmacists and their employers to fill scripts for things like
birth control pills, narcotics or anything else they're "morally"
opposed to or face stiff penalties and loss of their licenses.
What's next, Christian Scientists refusing to fill *any* prescriptions?
Are there any christian scientists who actually are pharmacists??
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
07 Apr 2005 04:44:51 PM |
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On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 12:51:00 -0500, Sean C
<redhawk@burnspammersalive.com> wrote:
In article <1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com>, Fredric L. Rice
<FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote:
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
Scattered reports suggest that a growing number of pharmacists around
the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives or
morning-after birth control pills because of moral or religious
objections.
Although the refusals are cast as important matters of conscience for
self-described "pro-life" pharmacists, they have the pernicious effect
of delaying, and sometimes even denying, a woman's access to
medications that may be urgently needed.
I think both pharmacists and their employers need to recognize that
their industry only exists through government fiat. Do away with the
requirement that people must obtain prescriptions and go to licensed
pharmacies to get things like birth control pills and the market will
very quickly create cheaper and more cooperative alternatives. So long
as the government uses its power to create profitable monopolies in any
sector of the health industry, government should have the right to
force pharmacists and their employers to fill scripts for things like
birth control pills, narcotics or anything else they're "morally"
opposed to or face stiff penalties and loss of their licenses.
What's next, Christian Scientists refusing to fill *any* prescriptions?
Why, yes.
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
.
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| User: "Fredric L. Rice" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
05 Apr 2005 12:09:27 AM |
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Sean C <redhawk@burnspammersalive.com> wrote:
In article <1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com>, Fredric L. Rice
<FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote:
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
Scattered reports suggest that a growing number of pharmacists around
the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives or
morning-after birth control pills because of moral or religious
objections.
Although the refusals are cast as important matters of conscience for
self-described "pro-life" pharmacists, they have the pernicious effect
of delaying, and sometimes even denying, a woman's access to
medications that may be urgently needed.
I think both pharmacists and their employers need to recognize that
their industry only exists through government fiat. Do away with the
requirement that people must obtain prescriptions and go to licensed
pharmacies to get things like birth control pills and the market will
very quickly create cheaper and more cooperative alternatives. So long
as the government uses its power to create profitable monopolies in any
sector of the health industry, government should have the right to
force pharmacists and their employers to fill scripts for things like
birth control pills, narcotics or anything else they're "morally"
opposed to or face stiff penalties and loss of their licenses.
What's next, Christian Scientists refusing to fill *any* prescriptions?
Good points. And in fact I'd like to see these people who refuse to
fill prescriptions get exposed widely in the media, and I'd like to see
the stores they work out of get picketed and protested.
---
http://www.ElmerFudd.US/ http://www.notserver.com/
Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
Scientology murder: http://PerkinsTragedy.org
Improving the herd: http://www.rightard.org/
http://www.religiousfreedomwatch.org/extremists/ricef.html
.
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| User: "Frank J Warner" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
06 Apr 2005 01:14:00 PM |
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In article <1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com>, Fredric L. Rice
<FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote:
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
By this reasoning, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are God's
will. Those "moral christian" pharmacists are going to hell for filling
my prescriptions for Toprol and Tricor.
-Frank
--
Here's some of my work:
http://www.franksknives.com
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: New York Times: Moralists at the Pharmacy |
07 Apr 2005 04:46:27 PM |
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On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 06:14:00 -0700, Frank J Warner
<warnerf@veriSPAMMERSDIEzon.net> wrote:
In article <1151kges8hrhq39@corp.supernews.com>, Fredric L. Rice
<FRice@SkepticTank.ORG> wrote:
From The New York Times, 4/3/05:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/opinion/03sun2.html
Moralists at the Pharmacy
By this reasoning, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are God's
will. Those "moral christian" pharmacists are going to hell for filling
my prescriptions for Toprol and Tricor.
Exactly.
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
.
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