Things that suck I: Druggists refuse to give out birth control pills

(This is a very informative thread and I thank y'all.)

it does seem strange for someone with such extreme views to choose those professions. on the other hand, maybe the moral code was developed later in life, after the career was underway.

am I the only person who sees that the variety of services provided by doctors is like 100 times greater than the variety of services provided by pharmacists?

with related questions of expertise and skill?

anyone in a rural area GET OUT NOW

i certainly don't agree with them (those refusing to precribe or fill said prescriptions) but i don't think that they should be forced to act against their morals either. perhaps the problem dave mentioned could be avoided by the doctor filling the prescriptions knowing beforehand which pharmacy would fill it.

..or having a pharmacy located at the doctor's office .. but there's a whole issue with competition and free trade, etc, etc.. But just knowing that "yes, the CVS in Pixley will fill that for you" doesn't do much good when you live in Hooterville. (Although I think the cannonball does make daily stops in Pixley.)

Most OBGYNs (and even general family practitioners who do basic OBGYN services) get tons of free samples from pharmaceutical companies of various birth control methods. My doctor in NYC had no problem handing us like three months worth of samples each visit just in case (you can't get to the pharmacy immediately, you forgot to refill the prescription, whatever). Is this not the same in less urban areas? I imagine they would get samples too, though maybe not in the same magnitude as "busier" (and higher-priced) urban doctors, I imagine the doctors could help lessen the problem by distributing more of the samples to women in areas where there are less pharmacies as a precautionary measure against zealous pharmacists? It's not really a solution but it would help avoid the problem of these women who are ending up missing pills and being at risk because of this situation of having to hunt for a new pharmacy.

Also, Planned Parenthoods generally have limited pharmacies located within them as well...again this doesn't really HELP women who are in areas with only a small number of pharmacies to choose from, where a Planned Parenthood might be hours away.

Obviously distributing more samples in less populated areas which are more likely to get this pharmacy problem has utterly no financial incentive for the pharmaceutical companies so this might be a huge stumbling block in my interim solution.

Most hospitals have a pharmacy in them too.