Revisiting the pharmacist/birth control script refusal debate (sort of)

[ncgolfer]

The pharmacist held on to her prescription, thus infringing upon her right to get that prescription filled.

I think we all agree unless he legitimately thought is was either counterfit or forged.

 

[AllyandJack]

Just because you paid for insurance does not mean any given pharmacy has to accept it. Also if a given pharmacy does not carry a certain med, you are not going to walk out the door with it.

You have the right to attempt to have your prescriptions filled anywhere you choose, but every place you go may not provide the service you are looking for.

There's a difference between "We don't have that" and "We have it, I'm just not giving it to you". Lots of pharmacies clearly state that there is a waiting period for oxycontin. Lots of places won't fill certain meds without seeing your ID when you go to pick them up. But, to say they have them and they're choosing not to give them to you is wrong.

Can they then stop me from buying a Diet Coke on the way out because they don't want me to have it??

 

[ncgolfer]

There's a difference between "We don't have that" and "We have it, I'm just not giving it to you". Lots of pharmacies clearly state that there is a waiting period for oxycontin. Lots of places won't fill certain meds without seeing your ID when you go to pick them up. But, to say they have them and they're choosing not to give them to you is wrong.

Can they then stop me from buying a Diet Coke on the way out because they don't want me to have it??

Yes they can, they don't have to sell you anything they don't want to!

 

[swilphil]

I can't answer for the pharmacists in question, but the pharmacists I know (and many are female), will not dispense BC or the morning after pills for all patients and have done so since they began practicing. But all of them give the script to another pharmacist to fill or are willing to refer to another pharmacy. The cases you see in the news are the extreme.

Ladyjayhawk--I'm in Kansas, too, and know many pharmacists here who graduated from UMKC's or KU's pharm school. I've never heard them refusing to dispense birth control. I have heard them talk about not dispensing pain meds that are being abused. I do admire the pharmacists you know that just give the script to another pharmacist.

 

[AllyandJack]

Yes they can, they don't have to sell you anything they don't want to!

I'd like to see someone stop me from buying something I can pay for and can legally purchase.

If they're going to have that attitude, don't open a store. Maybe we should have the grocery cashiers weigh people and only sell them the food they think they should eat.

 

[ncgolfer]

I'd like to see someone stop me from buying something I can pay for and can legally purchase.

If they're going to have that attitude, don't open a store. Maybe we should have the grocery cashiers weigh people and only sell them the food they think they should eat.

You can legally buy a coke, but that does not Entitle you the right to force any store to sell you one. They sell you products and fill scripts as a service to you not because they are forced by law to do it. Will a pharmacy that picks and choose what to fill do very well? I would say no, but its there business and they have the right to run it as they see appropriately

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that the pharmacist should have at least returned the script. He definitely had no right to keep it for moral reasons!

 

[AllyandJack]

You can legally buy a coke, but that does not Entitle you the right to force any store to sell you one. They sell you products and fill scripts as a service to you not because they are forced by law to do it. Will a pharmacy that picks and choose what to fill do very well? I would say no, but its there business and they have the right to run it as they see appropriately

Well...if they advertise the product by putting it on a shelf for you to see, that could be construed as an offer to purchase that product. When you go in, with the money (consideration) and accept the offer to purchase, are they legally bound to sell you the product unless there is some other factor (such as illegality)?

I have no idea...I just wanted to get a flash back of my 1L Contracts class.....

 

[ncgolfer]

Well...if they advertise the product by putting it on a shelf for you to see, that could be construed as an offer to purchase that product. When you go in, with the money (consideration) and accept the offer to purchase, are they legally bound to sell you the product unless there is some other factor (such as illegality)?

I have no idea...I just wanted to get a flash back of my 1L Contracts class.....

My flash back to business law is not flashing so I can't answer

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

The only real issue I have with this thread is when people try to make every situation the same with things the pharmacist and/or physician should or should not do. There are way too many things that enter in.... you just can't make sweeping statements.

The one thing that nearly everyone agrees on is that the pharmacist should not have kept the prescription. However, the fit throwers and the ones that would sue for such an action are going overboard, IMO.

As a consumer I would walk out the door of that pharmacy for the last time, contact my Dr. and tell them what happened and where. They will more than likely give you another prescription. If they choose to contact the pharmacy and attempt to validate your claim or secure the original prescription, that is up to them.

As for the choosing not to sell issue, there are all kinds of judgement calls made on that everyday. With all of the issues with pseudoephedrine and others, I imagine pharmacists WISH all they had to do was count pills!

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Ladyjayhawk--I'm in Kansas, too,

Hello swilphil, I think we have talked before about us both being from K.C. You also gave me advice about the Swan.

and know many pharmacists here who graduated from UMKC's or KU's pharm school. I've never heard them refusing to dispense birth control. I have heard them talk about not dispensing pain meds that are being abused.

As you can imagine there are a lot of pharmacists in Kansas. Because I am involved with the state's professional organization, I know quite a few. This issue comes up from time to time and I am familiar with people on both "sides."

 

[yeartolate]

As a consumer, if I went into Walmart to get my prescription and do some shopping while I waited only to find out that my prescription could not be filled on moral grounds, I would leave my full cart with the manager of the store and explain to him why I will be shopping at Target from now on. They have the right to practice their religion, I have my right to be a consumer.

 

[Charade]

As a consumer, if I went into Walmart to get my prescription and do some shopping while I waited only to find out that my prescription could not be filled on moral grounds, I would leave my full cart with the manager of the store and explain to him why I will be shopping at Target from now on. They have the right to practice their religion, I have my right to be a consumer.

But what if it were clearly posted that certain meds are not dispensed?

 

[marybet]

But what if it were clearly posted that certain meds are not dispensed?

I would stop shopping there. I don't want their advice, they have no right to impose their morals on me. If there is a mistake in the script then it is their job to research it, but not to decide if I should or should not get what my dr. has ordered.

Isn't this just another example of how people are trying to take away our rights? Unless the FDA has withdrawn a drug, the pharmacist should have to fill the script unless there is a mistake which should be corrected.

I met a man who was color blind and he was an electrician and couldn't understand why no one would hire him. Duh! Don't enter a field if you can't perform the duties it requires.

 

[Charade]

I would stop shopping there. I don't want their advice, they have no right to impose their morals on me. If there is a mistake in the script then it is their job to research it, but not to decide if I should or should not get what my dr. has ordered.

You have the right to *not* shop there for sure.

I believe we have a catch-22 here. You don't want them to impose *their* morals on you (which IMO, they are not because they are not obligated to sell you anything) but you want them to compromise *their* morals by filling a script they don't approve of *and* you want them to find another job if they can't/won't perform that *one* small portion of it.

This is an issue between the employer/owner and employee.

The fast food chain Chick-Fillet is not open (or at least they didn't used to be) on Sundays because the owner wants the employees to be with their families. I don't know if their are religious reasons behind that decision or not but if there were, are they (the owner) imposing their moral beliefs on customers that want to buy a chicken sandwich on a Sunday?

My point is, if you have other options to get the script filled or a chicken sandwich on a Sunday other than at Chick-Fillet, then nothing is being imposed upon you nor are any rights being taken away.

Isn't this just another example of how people are trying to take away our rights? Unless the FDA has withdrawn a drug, the pharmacist should have to fill the script unless there is a mistake which should be corrected.

Clearly NOT! What right has been taken away? The "right" to shop at *that* store? Didn't realize that was a right.

 

[chobie]

I think just about everyone agrees that as long as consumers knew ahead of time which pharmacies will fill their prescriptions and which won't, everyone would be fine with pharmacists who get off on the power than can exert by refusing women their birth control pills. It would be interesting to see which pharmacies would do better, the ones who advertise they don't fill certain prescriptions or the ones who advertise they will fill your prescription without passing judgment.

 

[marybet]

You have the right to *not* shop there for sure.

I believe we have a catch-22 here. You don't want them to impose *their* morals on you (which IMO, they are not because they are not obligated to sell you anything) but you want them to compromise *their* morals by filling a script they don't approve of *and* you want them to find another job if they can't/won't perform that *one* small portion of it.

This is an issue between the employer/owner and employee.

The fast food chain Chick-Fillet is not open (or at least they didn't used to be) on Sundays because the owner wants the employees to be with their families. I don't know if their are religious reasons behind that decision or not but if there were, are they (the owner) imposing their moral beliefs on customers that want to buy a chicken sandwich on a Sunday?

My point is, if you have other options to get the script filled or a chicken sandwich on a Sunday other than at Chick-Fillet, then nothing is being imposed upon you nor are any rights being taken away.




Clearly NOT! What right has been taken away? The "right" to shop at *that* store? Didn't realize that was a right.

I don't think they should be able to fill only scripts that they "approve". It is not just between them and their employer if it affects other people. Not getting a chicken sandwich on a Sunday will not affect my health. Unless I have been banned from a store for some reason than I believe I have a right to shop there. Why else would they be in business if they didn't want people to shop there? You can use semantics any way you like, maybe I should find another word for "right" but it won't change how I feel about the issue. Sure it won't change yours either. So we can just agree to disagree.

 

[yeartolate]

Quote:
Originally Posted by yeartolate
As a consumer, if I went into Walmart to get my prescription and do some shopping while I waited only to find out that my prescription could not be filled on moral grounds, I would leave my full cart with the manager of the store and explain to him why I will be shopping at Target from now on. They have the right to practice their religion, I have my right to be a consumer.

But what if it were clearly posted that certain meds are not dispensed?

I normally do alot of shopping while picking up prescriptions. Going to a separate place would be a hastle. Since I tend to be loyal to one store they would lose my business altogether.

I have no problem with a person practicing their religion, but there are plenty of places a pharmacist can work that would not cause them to inflict their sense of morality on me.

 

[chobie]

Quote:
Originally Posted by yeartolate
As a consumer, if I went into Walmart to get my prescription and do some shopping while I waited only to find out that my prescription could not be filled on moral grounds, I would leave my full cart with the manager of the store and explain to him why I will be shopping at Target from now on. They have the right to practice their religion, I have my right to be a consumer.
I normally do alot of shopping while picking up prescriptions. Going to a separate place would be a hastle. Since I tend to be loyal to one store they would lose my business altogether.
I have no problem with a person practicing their religion, but there are plenty of places a pharmacist can work that would not cause them to inflict their sense of morality on me.

And lets be honest it's hypocritical. The "moral" pharmacist has no idea if the BC pills are being used by people who are not having sex, but just need to have the periods regulated for a variety of medical reasons, like say endrometriotis.

So basically they are having to judge the person which is also against their religion. So if they were truly "moral" they would be giving the women the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Charade]

I think just about everyone agrees that as long as consumers knew ahead of time which pharmacies will fill their prescriptions and which won't, everyone would be fine with pharmacists who get off on the power than can exert by refusing women their birth control pills. It would be interesting to see which pharmacies would do better, the ones who advertise they don't fill certain prescriptions or the ones who advertise they will fill your prescription without passing judgment.

I don't get the "passing judgment" or a "power trip" comments.

Walmart doesn't sell porn magazines because THEY don't want to. I doubt it's because they don't want YOU or others to look at it. They are certainly not trying to prevent you from getting that kind of stuff elsewhere. I don't think they are passing judgment on me because they won't sell it to me.

Another way to look at this is to respect *their* right not to sell stuff they don't want to and don't take it so personal. Shop elsewhere. It's not all about *you* (not you personally Chobie, the general you).

I really don't understand the mentality where people should be able to buy anything they want from a drug store just because they have a prescription from a doctor.

Whether or not is good business decision is a totally different debate.