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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask my pharmacist to use my actual title on my medicine

559 replies

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 16:00

decided to edit this a bit for clarity - I'm a Ms, my pharmacist keeps writing Miss on the labels (as part of a wider pattern of annoying behaviour). Will I look mad if I say please call me Ms on my labels?

(The prescriptions all say Ms)

OP posts:
PolkaDotsLikeALadyBug · 19/02/2025 22:56

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 19/02/2025 22:46

This was a private prescription.

still peanuts dispensing fees.
Patient pays for the price of drug and a tiny fee to dispense it for a private prescription. not really a money maker. Community pharmacists are making a huge loss on nhs prescriptions (which make up 99.9% of work) with all the drugs that are in short supply and paying above what the prescription pricing authority pay them back for it - the tarrif is based on the cheapest brand of drugs available and if you can't get hold of it then the pharmacy pays for the cost difference. Why do you think a lot of them are closing down?

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 19/02/2025 22:46

PolkaDotsLikeALadyBug · 19/02/2025 21:48

As a pharmacist if you asked me I'd just change it on the system that makes the labels. TBH there's so many variations on the drop down menu. It's really no big deal. Just ask one of the counter assistants or dispenser to do it - doesn't need to be the Pharmacist. Also the Pharmacist does not make all that money that you pay him for the prescription. Most will go towards the cost of the drug which usually is actually more than the price you pay, the container etc. The dispensing fee is just over a quid which is what the Pharmacist gets.

It's no big deal to change it Ms!

This was a private prescription.

Lyraloo · 19/02/2025 22:39

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 16:03

No it definitely says Ms

I have a copy in my emails

Maybe their system doesn’t have Ms!

Mommybunny · 19/02/2025 22:05

I’m usually pretty open- minded and often find myself saying “hmmm, that’s a good point” when I’ve had a hot take on an AIBU question that’s been challenged by a response that made me rethink. But I have actually read this whole thread and I haven’t come across one single response that makes me rethink my hot take YABU. I’m American, though have lived in the U.K. almost 25 years, during which time I’ve gotten (yes, that word that makes so many teeth itch!) married and had two kids here in the interim. I’m always addressed as Mrs DH’s-surname when I’m doing stuff for home, kids’ schools etc. People assume I’m Mrs regardless of whether I’ve told them. But I also use my maiden name at work, and sometimes I even get addressed as Mrs maiden-name. COULD NOT CARE LESS.

It’s always a little strange at first when I go back home to the US, because there the default for any woman, married, single, divorced, widowed, whatever is Ms - for example, newspapers like the NY Times almost always title a woman Ms unless she’s the First Lady. But again, I just shrug, COULD NOT CARE LESS. It would never occur to me to tell someone to address me as Mrs, even though I have achieved that higher state of being called marriage. As my Southern daddy used to say, “you can call me anything you like, just don’t call me late for supper!”

The OP is entitled to her opinion on her title and to politely request that the pharmacy change their records to the title/honorific she prefers (which, let’s be absolutely clear, IS NOT HER NAME and is not a key piece of information the pharmacy needs to match to be sure the prescription is properly dispensed to her), but I’m sorry, i do think SIBU to equate a minor admin error with an affront to her dignity.

Blushingm · 19/02/2025 21:55

suki1964 · 18/02/2025 16:38

At least they have the correct sex

Im Mr on my wage slip - I was born female and I have never in my life identified as male

The way some posters on this thread think perhaps you shouldn't accept your pay til it's corrected?😂😂

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:51

ttcat37 · 19/02/2025 21:50

What do you think they’re doing with that information? Putting it in a spreadsheet? Nobody cares if you’re married or not.

That's the sound of the point whooshing over your head.

ComealongSpring · 19/02/2025 21:51

OP I am.a community pharmacist and was also raised by a feminist mother. You have every right to be addressed as Ms. Men don't have to disclose whether they are married why should we.

Blushingm · 19/02/2025 21:51

In the grand scheme of things how/why does this affect you? The pharmacy is busy - you're getting the correct medication - why the fuss?

ttcat37 · 19/02/2025 21:50

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:33

Pretty sure the person dispensing my medication can see what sex I am with their own eyes, as 99.9% of humans can 99.9% of the time.

My marital status is still none of their damn business.

What do you think they’re doing with that information? Putting it in a spreadsheet? Nobody cares if you’re married or not.

PolkaDotsLikeALadyBug · 19/02/2025 21:48

As a pharmacist if you asked me I'd just change it on the system that makes the labels. TBH there's so many variations on the drop down menu. It's really no big deal. Just ask one of the counter assistants or dispenser to do it - doesn't need to be the Pharmacist. Also the Pharmacist does not make all that money that you pay him for the prescription. Most will go towards the cost of the drug which usually is actually more than the price you pay, the container etc. The dispensing fee is just over a quid which is what the Pharmacist gets.

It's no big deal to change it Ms!

SnoopysHoose · 19/02/2025 21:46

Once your medication is issued, you're the only person who will then see the label, does it really bother you to see Miss and not Ms?
I don't think I've ver even noticed this, odd thing to moan about.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:33

ttcat37 · 19/02/2025 21:17

Why don’t you opt for Mx then? Don’t let them know what sex you are for gods sake MISS Scarlet, or should we say MsScarlet 🥴

Pretty sure the person dispensing my medication can see what sex I am with their own eyes, as 99.9% of humans can 99.9% of the time.

My marital status is still none of their damn business.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 19/02/2025 21:26

Starlightstarbright4 · 19/02/2025 21:15

However you will have an account that would connect to any prescriptions .. if you have meds from the Gp and private Doctor . The pharmacist needs to be aware of drug interactions ..

No you don't. My private prescription never appeared in my NHS records. The pharmacists who filled it had no information about me.

ttcat37 · 19/02/2025 21:17

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 11:48

A Ms is a woman who may be single, divorced, married, cohabiting, widowed, in a same sex relationship, polyamorous, or any number of things which are none of your goddamn business, which is why she doesn't want to use a title indicating to nosy people which one she is.

Why don’t you opt for Mx then? Don’t let them know what sex you are for gods sake MISS Scarlet, or should we say MsScarlet 🥴

Starlightstarbright4 · 19/02/2025 21:15

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 18:05

No but my treatment is totally unconnected to my NHS records. I don't want it to be connected and I've never confirmed any details about my NHS theoretical registration.

However you will have an account that would connect to any prescriptions .. if you have meds from the Gp and private Doctor . The pharmacist needs to be aware of drug interactions ..

PlumFairies · 19/02/2025 21:03

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 16:00

decided to edit this a bit for clarity - I'm a Ms, my pharmacist keeps writing Miss on the labels (as part of a wider pattern of annoying behaviour). Will I look mad if I say please call me Ms on my labels?

(The prescriptions all say Ms)

Just go in and ask. It’s not a big deal.

Myfamilys · 19/02/2025 21:02

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 16:00

decided to edit this a bit for clarity - I'm a Ms, my pharmacist keeps writing Miss on the labels (as part of a wider pattern of annoying behaviour). Will I look mad if I say please call me Ms on my labels?

(The prescriptions all say Ms)

On the basis we live in a world where millions of people have no access to even the most basic medication and other countries like America where medication is so expensive that evn some working people can't even afford basic antibiotics. I think I would say let title on your name on a tiny sticky label on the front of you medication slide and find something that actually matters to worry about! There are literally billions of things in the world worth your time worrying about and this isn't it! Great you found time to post about it on the Internet though cos if it's that bigger problem you could have phoned your chemist in the same amount of time.

fingerbobz · 19/02/2025 20:51

It's not rude. It's just a mistake

Growlybear83 · 19/02/2025 20:49

fingerbobz · 19/02/2025 20:47

What wrong with Miss?

Im a Miss and proud

That's not the issue - the OP uses the title Ms not Miss, as is her prerogative, and it is rude of the pharmacy not to respect her wishes.

fingerbobz · 19/02/2025 20:47

What wrong with Miss?

Im a Miss and proud

ClarafromHR · 19/02/2025 18:32

Lou205 · 18/02/2025 17:18

I find Ms as pretentious at they/them.

Really? Ms has been around a lot longer and is valid as women don’t need to advertise their marital status. I’m guessing you’re a youngster who hasn’t had to fight for any of the rights that my generation did.
I have been married for 42 years and have never used my husband’s name (and he hasn’t used mine) and have always used Ms.
I agree about pronouns though - any pronouns. So unnecessary and pretentious. Mine are ‘Ho/Hum’.

MellersSmellers · 19/02/2025 18:18

I have been trying to be called Ms since the 80's on principle. My marital status is of no interest or relevance to anyone, and Ms works perfectly well for ID purposes.
Yes, it's annoying when people don't respect your title (or preferred title) but it really isn't a hill worth dying on.
I get far more annoyed by my DF sending cards to me as Mrs (first name)(husbands surname), just to continue making the point after 40yrs marriage that he still disagrees with me keeping my "maiden" name. 🙄

tommyhoundmum · 19/02/2025 18:10

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 16:00

decided to edit this a bit for clarity - I'm a Ms, my pharmacist keeps writing Miss on the labels (as part of a wider pattern of annoying behaviour). Will I look mad if I say please call me Ms on my labels?

(The prescriptions all say Ms)

I have the opposite problem

Brokenrecordroundround · 19/02/2025 18:09

Totally agree, they dislike the ambiguity of Ms because of they don't know your marital status how do they know your value 🙄 If it's so unimportant let's just dispose of titles altogether

JHound · 19/02/2025 17:33

Brokenrecordroundround · 19/02/2025 15:33

He sounds like he had some issues! This thread is a good example that people are aware that a woman is using Ms on principal and they have an issue with it hence all the "how pretentious, get some perspective responses" which is why I correct it every.single.time. because either they're being

Funnily enough though, I've never had a woman had to correct her Ms status on any of our systems but have had lots of women who admittedly haven't actually changed their name anywhere else or with their GP yet but they decide that the hospital appointment they've just arrived at is the time to ask all their paperwork that has been prepped in advance to be changed to their married name. But asking people to correct a title to what was provided is precious and time wasting🤷🏻‍♀️

A lot of people are sexist. They do think that a woman’s marital status should be an important part of her identity but don’t feel the same should be true for men.

Hence the “pretentious” comments. Sexism and objecting to people pushing back at sexism.

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