“You’re not giving ME the pills because of YOUR religion?”
A pharmacist refused to issue contraceptive pills prescribed by a doctor because it was against her religion.
Janine Deeley, 38, thought the woman was joking when she took her on one side and said : “I don’t give out contraceptive pills because of my religion.”
The mother of two teenage daughters, from Wybourn , Sheffield, said : “I couldn’t believe the arrogance of the woman . Who is she to refuse to give me properly prescribed legal drugs?
“The irony is that one reason why I am prescribed the pill is because I suffer from endometriosis which causes painful periods.
“But that’s not the point I don’t see why I need to be treated like a child and explain myself to her. I am a responsible adult.
“She had no right to refuse to dispense my prescription except if the drugs weren’t in stock or if she thought the dosage was incorrect.
“The pharmacy is adjoining the doctor’s surgery and I have been using it for years without a problem. But this time I went in gave the assistant the prescription but then the pharmacist came out, took me to one side and said she had the painkillers I had been prescribed but not the contraceptive pill.
“I asked ‘oh why not?’ and she said ‘I don’t give them out because of my religion.’ I honestly thought she was joking and I said ‘Pardon?’.
“She repeated it and I said ‘ You’re not giving ME the pills because of YOUR religion? and she replied ‘yes’.
“I was absolutely stunned. She said I could go to another chemist or return the next day when someone else was on duty. I was fuming and just stormed out.”
She added : “I had no idea what religion the woman was and I don’t remember if she has served me before. The other staff looked very embarrassed but obviously it was the pharmacist’s decision.
“There’s a lot of things in society you might not like or agree with, but you can’t do anything about them.This type of thing shouldn’t be happening, it’s not right.”
Outrageous.
Surely the pharmacist has no right to refuse because of her religion. Sounds similar to the Islington case where the registrar refused to conduct civil partnerships with gay couples.
What next? young people at the checkouts refuse to process our purchases of alcohol because it’s against their religion?!
Pharmacist refuses to do her job –> Pharmacist should be disciplined or fired.
She had no right, whatsoever. It’s about time discriminations like this be made illegal. The pharmacist has every right to believe that the pill is evil or whatever, but has no right to let this affect her fulfilling the terms of her employment contract without consequence. Especially when in the business of dealing out important drugs to people who need them.
This would never have happened if the pharmacist’s parents had used contraception.
Right on P Dakers, I think this lady is in the wrong job. If she feels her religion stops her from carrying out her duties, it’s time to seek other employment.
I’m shocked, and hope appropriate disciplinary action is taken. But one little thought is nagging me about this, and I’m not claiming it’s the same thing, or anything, but:
How would people feel about a pharmacist refusing to sell homoeopathic pills that the store stocked because of their belief that they’re just sugar-pill placebos with no medicinal value which it would be unethical to sell? (it’s possible this actually happened to me on the day of the 10^23 protest, though that probably wasn’t the reason – and certainly wasn’t the reason given – for why I had to find a regular-cashier instead).
I’m asking because it’s a scenario that I would feel quite ambivalent about.
This is the Pharmacist’s oath in the USA.
“I promise to devote myself to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy. In fulfilling this vow:
* I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns.
* I will apply my knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for my patients.
* I will respect and protect all personal and health information entrusted to me.
* I will accept the lifelong obligation to improve my professional knowledge and competence.
* I will hold myself and my colleagues to the highest principles of our profession’s moral, ethical and legal conduct.
* I will embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care.
* I will utilize my knowledge, skills, experiences, and values to prepare the next generation of pharmacists.
I take these vows voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.”
By placing her religion above her duty to her patients, this Pharmacists would have broken such an oath. She should be disciplined and struck off her professional register.
@Antony
Because the fact that homeopathy doesn’t work is a fact, not a belief. See:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2010/feb/22/mps-verdict-homeopathy-useless-unethical
But they shouldn’t refuse to sell you them if they are in stock.
The thing is, they shouldn’t BE in stock. It’s sugar. If you want sugar, go to the shops.
Surely , by refusing to fill this prescription the pharmacist in question is guilty of religious discrimination. She is implying that Janine’s belief system is inferior to her own!
@ P Dakers
Epistemology is a curious thing, and as for ethics: Whether I agree that homeopathic pills shouldn’t be on the shelves depends on which shelves we are talking about (for at least as long as it’s legal to buy cigarettes – both come with a warning on the label). While I don’t think refusing to sell homeopathic pills which are in stock would be a worthwhile stand for a pharmacist to take, I also don’t think “just doing my job” is an adequate excuse for anything.