Protect Women from Pharmacists Who Refuse Birth Control

[uppityperson]

https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4347

The anti-choice movement has found out how to get between women and their birth control: pharmacists.

Led by extreme groups like Pharmacists for Life, anti-choice opponents are getting pharmacists to deny women their prescription birth control or access to over-the-counter emergency contraception. Even worse, women report being harassed and lectured by their pharmacist. Some women have not even been able to get their prescription returned!

The birth-control pill was approved 50 years ago. Protections for women’s access to birth control are long overdue.

Help us get a national law in place that would put an end to denials and delays at the pharmacy counter. Call on your members of Congress to cosponsor the Access to Birth Control Act! . (link to send message is here)

[Crystal Clarity]

1. Done.

Mine is on it's way to Sens. Snowe and Collins as well as Rep. Mike Michaud

It's infuriating that this is even necessary however. :grr: Unbelievable.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Need to boycott any pharmacy that refuses to dispense the prescription.

Maybe instead of identifying that it is birth control just identify that it is a legal prescription that they are denying.

First impression is the probably the most important needed. Someone driving by or going into the store seeing "Won't fill our prescription drugs" will think more negatively than "Won't provide birth control pills". The second sign they would most likely give it more thought and won't be as angry against the pharmacy.

Any negative publicity is bad publicity. And they will get more bad publicity if it is identified as "prescription drugs" rather than "birth control pills".

IMO

[nenagh]

3. As a Pharmacist.... [in Ontario, Canada]

I am horrified that there may be some dinosaurs in the profession that would refuse to fill a birth control Rx.

I would certainly ask first before handing over the birth control Rx .. and wish you all the best of luck...

[Maat]

4. Thanks for your input.

:hug:

[struggle4progress]

5. It should be criminally prosecutable to accept a script, then refuse to fill or return it,

simply on personal whim. I do not see how we can force private pharmacists to stock or dispense medication that they choose not to stock or dispense. But to accept a script, and then refuse to fill it and also refuse to return it, should be considered a tortious intervention in someone's medical treatment

[Bitwit1234]

6. Wasn't a law passed that made it illegal to refuse to dispense

ANY prescription. Look it up.

[uppityperson]

7. It depends on the state

May 2009
http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Health/PharmacistConscienceClausesLawsandLegislation/tabid/14380/Default.aspx

2010, pdf
http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_RPHS.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS:

46 states allow some health care providers to refuse to provide abortion services.

All of these states permit individual health care providers to refuse to provide abortion services.

43 states allow health care institutions to refuse to provide abortion services, 14 limit the exemption to private health care institutions and 1 state allows only religious health care entities to refuse to provide such care.

13 states allow some health care providers to refuse to provide services related to contraception.

8 states allow individual health care providers to refuse to provide services related to contraception

4 states explicitly permit pharmacists to refuse to dispense contraceptives. (5 additional states have broad refusal clauses that do not specifically include pharmacists, but may apply to them.)

1 state explicitly permits pharmacies to refuse to dispense contraceptives.

4 states have broad refusal clauses that do not specifically include pharmacies, but may apply to them.

9 states allow health care institutions to refuse to provide services related to contraception, 6 states limit the exemption to private entities.

17 states allow some health care providers to refuse to provide sterilization services.

16 states allow individual health care providers to refuse to provide sterilization services.

15 states allow health care institutions to refuse to provide sterilization services; 4 limit the exemption to private entities.
CONTINUED (chart at link)

[Piwi2009]

8. Wouldnt a better way

to do it - be a competitor. If a pharmacist won't fill B.C. prescriptions, then be one who WILL. If their opposition
is based on their religion, youre not gonna be too successful saying they have to go against their beliefs.

[uppityperson]

9. What if they don't believe in cardiac meds, should they be allowed to not

have those in stock? I mean, after all, people should just lose weight and exercise more.

If your business is lawfully prescribed medicines, you need to offer them.

[HockeyMom]

10. Mood stabilizers

There was a report a while a go that some pharms were refusing to dispense these too. I suppose they would tell a BiPolar person to PRAY to Jesus so they would not be depressed?

[MountainLaurel]

11. You're close

The church I attended as a child taught that mental illness really didn't exist, it was just a symptom of man's selfish nature and the influence of secular society. So, they probably believed there was no depression to pray away to begin with . . .

[Safya]

12. Pharmacists for stupidity

They have no right to prevent people choice.

[katmondoo]

13. Get out there with a picket sign and try to get others with you.

damn them