Pharmacists' Right of Refusal

On Metafilter, someone made a post about pharmacists who refuse to sell certain medications to customers, such as the emergency contraception pill or birth control pills.

I read about this issue recently and it's really annoying. First of all, if you are a pharmacist with moral compunction, go into business for yourself, or find a pharmacy chain that agrees with your stupidity. If you go to work for a large corporation, find out the duties for your job and then DO YOUR FUCKING JOB.

You, as a pharmacist, have no right to tell me that I do not need birth control or emergency contraception. Are you telling me that if I were raped by my brother (for instance), I would then be MORALLY OBLIGATED to have whatever child might result? What gives you the right to tell me how to live my life?

In the U.S., we have freedom for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You better bet your sweet bippy that I would stop patronizing your store and tell all my friends to do the same, not to mention write your bosses and the president of the corporation. I would slander your reputation all over the place, and not think twice about it--if you refused to fill my prescription. You tell me what to do; I take away your livelihood. That's fair, right?

If you own your own pharmacy, then go right ahead and don't stock whatever you find morally reprehensible. I won't shop there. Good luck with staying in business.

As far as whether the government should step in and pass a law requiring pharmacists to dispense medication, that is a rather iffy subject. Again, I think it's a corporate issue. Chain stores should have a policy regarding the sale of drugs that some pharmacists might find morally repugnant.

Make the choice with your consumer voice, people. Refuse to shop in pharmacies or at chain stores that refuse to fill prescriptions.

We have a right to control our bodies.