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

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(Like I said, that goes for any of the hormonal birth controls so anyone who keeps packets of back up birth control pills, nuva rings, ortho evra, et al GO CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE RIGHT NOW AND TOSS ANYTHING THAT EXPIRES 11/2004 OR EARLIER!! This Public Service Announcement has been brought to you by "The More You Know...")

xpost yeah, Suzy, that was an issue brought up in the article, or one of the ones posted, I believe, that a doctor or two initially refused to even return the script.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:03 (nineteen years ago) link

That's actionable if that's the case. Not much difference between that expression of personal moral beliefs and pinpricking their entire stock of condoms.

― suzy (suzy), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:05 (nineteen years ago) link

clearly they ought at least to have to return the prescription, i missed that part of the discussion. but there is a HUGE difference in doctors legally having to give prospective clients information on aboriton providers and legally having to BE abortion providers. no one seems to mind that doctors have this discretion. maybe pharmacists could be made to give information on pharmacies that fill such prescriptons?

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:38 (nineteen years ago) link

Well, that's the gist here, same as the social worker argument. If a social worker is working on a case and it turns out to be a family member or a friend (ie they might have some kind of moral or emotional stake in the issue) they are meant to turn over the case to someone else. This is a clear cut issue in the legal system, and I don't see why this is being handled as a delicate matter in regards to health service providers, who are also state-licenced and sanctioned. I have no problem* with a pharmacist refusing to fill a prescription for any medication he or she feels is wrong for some reason but the fact that they aren't providing any further information (especially in smaller, less populated areas where a person might very well find it difficult to locate somewhere that might have the medications in question) and that some of them feel fit to confiscate the scripts is another matter altogether.

* No problem here is a misnomer. I do have a problem with someone entering the health industry with a clear cut moral agenda against scientifically accepted procedures, as I really don't understand why someone would BECOME an OBGYN if they refuse to deal with any reproductive issues besides carried-out pregnancies and will not prescribe any preventative measures, but it's really not my job to tell people they shouldn't get involved in a profession if they have some kind of moral objection to major sections of what the profession involves.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:43 (nineteen years ago) link

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

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:48 (nineteen years ago) link

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.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:48 (nineteen years ago) link

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?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:56 (nineteen years ago) link

with related questions of expertise and skill?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:57 (nineteen years ago) link

I have no problem* with a pharmacist refusing to fill a prescription for any medication he or she feels is wrong for some reason..

I don't have a problem with it when there is a drugstore on every corner .. Unfortunately, again, the argument leaves out poorer people in smaller cities, suburban or rural locations who may have to travel a fur piece to get to another pharmacy. And without owning a car and without public transportation available.

So for that reason, I'm against a pharmacist or doctor intervening in such a way.

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:01 (nineteen years ago) link

anyone in a rural area GET OUT NOW

― dave q (listerine), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:06 (nineteen years ago) link

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.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:12 (nineteen years ago) link

..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.)

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:28 (nineteen years ago) link

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.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Friday, 12 November 2004 22:14 (nineteen years ago) link

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.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Friday, 12 November 2004 22:15 (nineteen years ago) link

Most hospitals have a pharmacy in them too.

― suzy (suzy), Friday, 12 November 2004 22:20 (nineteen years ago) link

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