http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=31667

How far are we willing to go in telling pharmacists to let their conscience be their guide?

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Man up.

I agree. I am as pro-life as anyone on the site, but refusing antibiotics to anyone is cruel and helps no one. As for the second case, the personal lives of customers are none of the pharmacist's business- period.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

I would have to say that self-employed pharmacists should be able to do as they please esp regarding their religious beliefs. I completely support their right to put themselves out of business. These pharmacist do not appear to be self-employed so it's up to their employer to fire them.

However, this Cedar River clinic does more than just perform abortions. They also do well-woman check-ups. The issue of privacy comes into play when a patient must tell the pharmacist why they are given a particular medication. Abortion-related antibiotics? How do they know it's not for a UTI? And, pregnancy vitamins are given to anemics and women who are breast-feeding! How did this idiot ever get through pharmacy school? Not only that, but RU-486 is given to reduce cortisol in the blood which can cause psychotic depression. That's what it was made for, abortion is a side-effect. stupid stupid stupid

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

I agree with this, with certain exceptions.

I don't think there should be a law forcing all pharmacists to dispense anything presented to them. But I also don't think there should be a law protecting them if they refuse to dispense medications. It should be legal for a pharmacist to be fired for doing so.

The exceptions are those rare cases where the pharmacist's qualms mean the patient can't get the medication they need -- the only pharmacy in a small town miles from nowhere, for instance. Mail-order pharmacies solve much of that problem, but even then you'll run into instances where the medication is needed *today*. I don't think a pharmacist's misgivings should be allowed to endanger a woman's health or make it impossible for the prescription to be filled.

Yup.

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Man up.

"The exceptions are those rare cases where the pharmacist's qualms mean the patient can't get the medication they need -- the only pharmacy in a small town miles from nowhere, for instance."

They still would have the option of moving to another town.... a town with competition.

Are we in agreement?
1) The pharmacist should not be compelled by law to dispense drugs against their will.
2) The pharmacy owner has the right to fire the pharmacist.


I recently had some very snooty Wal-Mart druggists refuse to fill my prescription. They apparently had a problem with my insurance card. They were quite smug and wouldn't answer my questions about what the problem was. They literally ignored me as I stood at the counter asking questions!!!! They even more stupidly did not offer me the opportunity to pay for the drug myself. I don't know what it would cost without insurance. Why would they treat me that way? Did they think I was stealing or getting the script to sell on the black market? Is there a big demand on the black market for NEXIUM!!!!?

P.S. Walgreens filled it without a hitch as they will forevermore.

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

Yep, if you except my acceptions. A pleasure doing business with you.

And they wonder why they don't get much repeat business....

The thing I love most about the capitalist system is that there is always someone willing to sell you anything if there is profit involved. This can be abused, and usually generates lots of talk about "bloodsuckers" and "greedy moneygrubbers" and the like. But overall I think it's a public good.

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Man up.

I think that Walgreens had to contact Wal-Mart since the script was a refill. I hope so. They lost all my family's business. I already hated Wal-Mart. I went there only for the big bags of dog food and prescriptions, not any more. We should be getting a SuperTarget soon and Wal-mart can kiss my behind. Poor Sam. They've taken his magnificent apple pie and turned it into a day old bagel.

OK OK rant's over.

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

Yeah. I live in the Target heartland, but I never could stand Wal-Mart.

And send your money north, to me! Bwahahahahahaha....

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Man up.

Ok with me, raytri. Anything I can do to help.




Just so long as you still drive to work and don't become a vegetarian.

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

I'll drive to work until a) they put in a light-rail station near my house or b) I figure out a way to work from home.

And no worries about becoming a vegetarian. Although we eat veggie chix and falafel, our burgers are buffalo, our other white meat is pork loin, my children have an expensive addiction to crab, and in the summer my Wisconsin heritage requires me to grill beer brats.

And this summer, I'm taking my 6-year-old daughter fishing for the first time.

Are we continuing this conversation mostly to get to the end of the song?

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Man up.