Overheard in pharmacy

[Wtafis]

In pharmacy this morning overheard another customer asking for MAP

they were denied as the pharmacist says it’s against their religious beliefs

poor woman had called and asked if they stocked it and no one had advised her, she was getting close to the end of the 72 hour window

im so cross on her behalf that access can be blocked like this for women

It's an absolute disgrace. Frankly someone shouldn't be a pharmacist if they aren't prepared to provide legal medication to people.

The pharmacist is within their rights to refuse on religious/moral grounds (but needs to formally declare this to their employers) and there should be someone else on hand who can prescribe/sell the medication.

Those with a personal objection to the provision of contraception/abortion services have a duty to signpost where those services can be obtained.

If she was advised by telephone that the service was available at that pharmacy, then it should have been.

It is however not the pharmacy's doing that she was seeking the service only at the very end of the window.

It was highly unprofessional of them to have had the conversation about MAP within earshot of other customers

Awful on many levels. I’m shocked.

No it’s not the pharmacies fault it was towards the end of the window, though this was a few days ago and with bank holiday closures access is harder than usual.
Also if your phones the pharmacy then you would expect it to be available.

i agree it should have been a private conversation too

This

The woman in question was told to come back in 6 hours when a different pharmacist would be there

to be honest I had no idea anyone objected to MAP because of how it works, no viable zygote ever exists as I understand it?

Absolute disgrace. Poor woman.

As a former pharmacist I can completely see how this happens (counter assistant or dispenser answers the phone and confirms it’s stocked- locum pharmacist hasn’t told them he won’t sell it at the start of his shift). But it’s awful and I find this lack of access to an essential service unacceptable personally.

Legally there’s no obligation for the pharmacy owner to have a second qualified person on site who will sell/supply the medication- it’s a very frustrating predicament.

Pharmacists are able to decline this service if it goes against their religious beliefs- there doesn't need to be anybody else "on hand" to offer it if they refuse but they are obliged to signpost you to other places that you'll be able to access the service.

I asked a pharmacist once why he felt the way he did and he said something about the harm it might do to an unborn child.... which surprised me given the education and knowledge required to become a pharmacist.

It's not fair OP, if providing basic medical care to women goes against their religious beliefs then they should chose another career path.

Is there any other service they can refuse to provide? If it’s just one I’d expect them to literally declare it as they start a shift.

This happened to me years ago, it was in a Boots , fortunately I did manage to find another chemist open on a Sunday. Bloody ridiculous.

I don't think that's fair. You work a job - you provide people with what they need.

This happened to dd at Boots. It was her second time of taking the MAP, first time was very straightforward and the pharmacist was very lovely and comforting. The second time dd found added to an already traumatic time.

Posted too soon.
I think if you choose to do a job you should take into account some of the tasks that need to be done, and the customer’s needs should trump a staff members belief when it’s a part of the job.

I had this experience in America, in Florida years ago. After a contraception failure I tried to get the MAP to be told 'it doesn't exist here'. Dud eventually manage to get hold of it- there is no way I would now given the reduction in women's health services there.

The MAP causes a hostile environment preventing implementation of an already fertilised egg.

They should declare it ahead of a shift so a more suitable pharmacist can be found if necessary. If it’s a needs must situation to cover pharmacist illness or something they should tell all members of staff as they arrive and find the nearest suitable alternative place to signpost women to. In practice I doubt this happens even 25% of the time.

*Bobbybobbins · Today 18:58

I had this experience in America, in Florida years ago. After a contraception failure I tried to get the MAP to be told 'it doesn't exist here'. Dud eventually manage to get hold of it- there is no way I would now given the reduction in women's health services there.*

When I was studying over there I signed up for a gynecologist through my health plan and went along to have my well woman check. I thought some of what the nurse was saying was weird, then halfway through talking to the doctor when he said something which rung a bell with me. I clocked the small cross pin on his lapel and realized that they were pushing catholic religious views. Turns out it was a catholic practice who did not believe in sex before marriage or contraception. I was so pissed off - not that they had the practice, that is up to them, but there was absolutely nothing stating this before I went along, and they only confirmed it when I asked.

Sorry, posted too soon. So I am not sure I buy into the idea that you should be able to refuse to do some regular parts of the job because of religious practices when you are in healthcare

The MAP causes a hostile environment preventing implementation of an already fertilised egg.

Really? The NHS says it just delays ovulation.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/emergency-contraception/

Either way, I don't think pharmacists should be able to refuse it on religious grounds.

That is absolutely awful. I'd be complaining to everyone possible. Shouldn't be working solo if you can't actually do your job. Poor woman

What I think I find confusing is it was in a supermarket.

I don’t know which religion the pharmacist was me it’s none of my bisiness

but Jewish staff will sell bacon, Muslim staff sell alcohol, catholics condoms, I’m generalising obviously, but why is this different? It’s a hell of a lot more essential

The poster saying about Florida reminded me of when I was staying at an island off Florida and needed the MAP 25+ years ago due to a broken condom.

I had to go to this private clinic and see a Dr and nurse and I was prescribed what I now know to be just the normal pill but he told me to take 5 of them at once. They also prescribed a anti nausea suppository which I didn’t end up getting as I thought I would be ok and so far this had cost about $500 and I didn’t want to spend $79 more on this suppository. I was violently sick from the tablets and that day I had to travel all day and get a taxi to a ferry, the ferry to another island, a plane to the mainland (I was being sick in the loos when they were calling me to the gate) and a taxi to a hotel. The taxi had to stop on the highway for an alligator, I thought I was hallucinating … it was such a bizarre day.