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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this is a bit off....But not sure why.

461 replies

Shortstuff08 · 30/07/2018 15:33

So, I had to go get the morning after pill today. I went to a high street retailer that has a pharmacy. They had a sign saying they provided it.

The woman behind the counter asked me if I was wanting the free one or to pay for it. I said that I assumed I would have to pay. She went away and came back and said they didn't provide the free one. I said that was fine and she told me that the Pharmacist would come our to see me in minute. A man approached me and asked if I was waiting. He then told me that he 'couldn't' provide MAP. I asked if they didn't have any and he said 'no, we do, but I can't give it'

Fair enough, I went to another high street store. Spoke to the Pharmacist there, she asked me a few questions about medication I am on and the gave me it. I said I was relieved she could as the other store couldn't give me it and thought I would spend all day looking for somewhere. She asked me where I had been and then said that some pharmacists, don't give it out due to religious purposes.

I don't think that's ok. If it's your job, how can you refuse on religious grounds? Or are some Pharmacists not able to administer it? Or am I being an arse in thinking that you should just do your job?

OP posts:

hungryhippo90 · 30/07/2018 15:36

Wow that’s an odd one.

AmIAWeed · 30/07/2018 15:36

I think it is OK to refuse something on religious grounds but they should have said that was the reason for refusal - not left you wondering why you couldn't have it.

Spam88 · 30/07/2018 15:37

It's just to do with beliefs. I think it's wrong personally, what if every pharmacist working in your area that day was anti-choice? Your right to emergency contraception would just be taken away?

JacquesHammer · 30/07/2018 15:38

I think it’s utterly abhorrent that someone can use their own religious beliefs as a reason not to provide care.

AgentProvocateur · 30/07/2018 15:39

Yes, it’s crap. We have a surgery here where only one GP will prescribe the pill.

Orchidflower1 · 30/07/2018 15:40

Ok to refuse on beliefs but they should have directed you to another chemist and explained why. Also bit weird of them to stock it if they don’t sell it unless other pharmists work shifts and do give it.

LilMadAgain · 30/07/2018 15:40

I don't think a Christian should object on moral grounds as the concept of not judging others is a cornerstone of our faith. It's like the bakers who wouldn't make a cake for their gay customers, I hope they weren't Christian as they weren't abiding by the rules of their own faith.

Thatssomebadhatharry · 30/07/2018 15:41

I think people should be able to refuse this only on the condition that there is someone in the pharmacy who will not. The pharmacist should then just get someone else and it shouldn’t be awkward at all for the often vulnerable person getting the script.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 30/07/2018 15:42

It's one thing to refuse on religious grounds (I honestly don't know how I feel about this) but why stock it in the first place? And why not put a clear sign on the door/in the window saying they don't supply it?

Sometimes life makes no sense!

butlerswharf · 30/07/2018 15:42

It's always been the case that they don't have to give it if it's against their beliefs. I don't agree with this but it's nothing new.

NaomiNagata · 30/07/2018 15:43

Your GP can refuse to refer you for an abortion on moral or religious grounds, and you need to make an appointment with another GP in the practice or elsewhere, so a pharmacist should be allowed to refuse the morning after pill if they want.

I'd want to argue with them that the morning after pill prevents pregnancy; it doesn't cause an abortion if a pregnancy has already implanted, so to object to sell it means they'd all need to object to selling condoms and giving out the contraceptive pill. It does annoy me that they act as though it's a solution when it is actually a preventative. But they still have that right.

BanginHeadache · 30/07/2018 15:44

Had this conversation only the other week with my friend who is a pharmacy dispenser and he said the pharmacist who used to work at our small local chemist wouldn’t give out the MAP due to her religious beliefs- I was shocked to say the least!

Excited101 · 30/07/2018 15:44

It’s appauling that that’s seen as acceptable. Unless they can (and are willing to) provide full care as their job entails regardless of personal beliefs, then they shouldn’t be doing it.

Northernlass99 · 30/07/2018 15:47

Sorry but I don't think its ok to refuse on religious grounds. The job is to dispense drugs. But in this circumstance they should have explained why and directed you to somewhere else where you could get it. I would respect that as reasonable.

KatieKittens · 30/07/2018 15:49

I understand that it’s something an individual pharmacist is entitled to do, but like a previous poster said, I think they should have directed you to another service/ told you when to come back.

It’s worth looking up the legislation and what the pharmacy’s policy is exactly and make a complaint if it has not been followed.

What if you had been a vulnerable person and unable to understand or access another service so easily?

Original poster

Shortstuff08 · 30/07/2018 15:50

I can't believe that this is ok.

To refuse something I am entitled to. The abortion situation is worse. How can a go refuse to refer for a procedure that a women is entitled to.

Can't quite think it would be the same if it impacted men. For example, would someone religious refuse to assist with erectile dysfunction, if the man requesting wasn't married? I mention this as it was listed (along with emergency contraception) as a service they offer.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 30/07/2018 15:51

I'd email their head office and let them know. This person can refuse all he wants, but it's important the company knows that's what he is doing and decide if they can still employ him based on the fact he refuses to carry out part of his job.

I assume you weren't told why because he doesn't want you to report him to his bosses.

So ethical enough not to prescribe it, just not ethical enough to be honest about it.

KTheGrey · 30/07/2018 15:52

They sound a bit Royston Vasey. Why did the woman ask if you paid or not if they couldn't give you the free one? Why didn't she tell you that first? And THEN some man arrives to tell you no without explanation? Not on. I wouldn't ever go back and I would tell other people so they don't waste their time. Mainly because I don't know who you should complain to.

Jillyjollyjandy · 30/07/2018 15:53

I had the morning after pill refused to me on religious grounds 20 years ago. I had to find another pharmacy.
It’s bollocks tbh.

BoomBoomsCousin · 30/07/2018 15:54

I think it’s appaling that people can use personal belief to refuse to do a part of their job. If someone doesn’t agree with doing part of what’s in the job description they shouldn’t apply for the job. Pharmacies in particular should not be allowed to do this because other pharmacies can’t just open up to compete with a more complete service, the number of pharmacies in an area is restricted to protect the business and some customers might not be able to travel to one that does provide it.

Sparklesocks · 30/07/2018 15:56

I have heard this before.
I do think it’s quite odd too - the MAP works by delaying the egg and preventing fertilisation. It doesn’t stop an existing pregnancy, it’s not like an abortion, it’s a form of contraception.
If the pharmacist is against this form of contraception for religious reasons - are they against selling condoms and the normal pill then? If not, why is the MAP special? Seems hypocritical to me.

mehhh · 30/07/2018 16:02

I agree with pp that you can refuse to provide on the condition there is someone there who can provide it... a pharmacists personal beliefs should not affect your life/decisions... taking the morning after pill is your decision to make

TakeMeToKernow · 30/07/2018 16:02

This happened to me as well!

I was similarly left with the assumption that it was religious grounds.

FuckPants · 30/07/2018 16:03

*I'd email their head office and let them know. This person can refuse all he wants, but it's important the company knows that's what he is doing and decide if they can still employ him based on the fact he refuses to carry out part of his job.

I assume you weren't told why because he doesn't want you to report him to his bosses.

So ethical enough not to prescribe it, just not ethical enough to be honest about it.*

He's doing nothing wrong but he should have asked a colleague to serve OP or direct her to another pharmacy so I'm not sure that complaining will achieve anything.

Original poster

Shortstuff08 · 30/07/2018 16:05

Complaining may not achieve anything. However that doesn't mean I can't tell a company that I am unhappy with their service and question it.

I would also like to know if he also refuses to help men with erectile dysfunction who are not married.

OP posts:

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