Mum refused emergency contraception. Because pharmacist doesn’t agree with it. Grrr.

[Evenquieterlife33]

I cannot get my head around this- if a medication is available for legal sale and use in the U.K no pharmacist should be imposing their personal beliefs on anybody and refusing to sell it to them. Absolute piss take in my opinion. It’s outrageous that this is legal. I have never heard of women being refused emergency contraception because it clashes with the pharmacists personal beliefs until I read this. I am got smacked. I bet I could find a pharmacist who doesn’t like to dispense antibiotics, I can’t see them being able to turn people away. The older I get the more of this shit seems to be visible. It’s either getting worse or I’ve had my eyes shut for a very long time.
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Sorry “gob smacked.” Clearly I can’t type when I’m annoyed.

I've been refused emergency contraception by a pharmacist who cited religious belief.

I wonder if anyone has been refused viagra because of belief? 'If God wanted you to get it up, you would be able to get it up'.

exactly- I just think don’t be a bloody pharmacist if you don’t want to do the full job!

I am sure their religious beliefs only come in to play when it's related to women's health.

I agree. If you feel unable to do all the job, then don’t don’t sign up to do the job.

I’ve posted this before, but a friend of mine had retained matter after a termination and the scan woman refused to check her because she disagreed with terminations. It’s apalling.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/7521153/New-code-allows-religious-pharmacists-to-opt-out-of-prescribing-contraception.html

It’s unacceptable that pharmacists have been allowed to opt out. The morning after pill is time sensitive. If they are allowed to opt out they should be obliged to provide an immediate alternative eg speaking to another pharmacist over the phone so they can access the medication immediately.

Yup- from what I know it’s 3 days for some brands and 5 for others. So the declining pharmacist should have to get another pharmacist in a taxi immediately to hand the woman the two pills she can’t bear to within half an hour. It’s disgusting. And what happens if the ratio of religiously observant pharmacists outnumbers the non religious? What then do we all have to trot down to a&e every time and take our chances there? Can nurses refuse or doctors??

No professional can be forced to perform a service that they are morally/ethically opposed to - and that’s right and proper in my opinion, in a democratic society. So we should not force a pharmacist to prescribe something that would conflict with their beliefs.

However women should also have free access to emergency contraception, and it’s highly time sensitive.

If a pharmacist can not prescribe due to their beliefs, it should be well advertised on any listings & big sign in the shop; they should have an arrangement with a nearby colleague who is able to prescribe. Local health authorities should ensure there are always sufficient pharmacists available who are able to prescribe & perhaps maintain a widely available list so you can look up where/when appropriate pharmacists are available.

Or only opt out if there is another colleague available on site who can provide access.

I think we should rebrand it sexist control of women's re-productive function, rather than belief.

Is there an example of them refusing to sell condoms - because that is also meant to be a means of preventing conception and pregnancy.

@TinklyLittleLaugh surely that’s illegal? The woman could have developed sepsis. What happened to “first do no harm.”?

It’s not belief you are right. It’s just control under the guise of belief. They should be named and shamed.

They shouldn't be doing the job if they are not prepared to carry out all aspects of it. It's absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable!

Don't believe in it? That's fine nobody is making them take it! But who gives them the right to play god with somebody else's life.

@Cwenthryth the thing is though this relies on the idea that this trend to decline women their legal right to emergency contraception doesn’t increase. Also that pharmacy firms are forced to offer alternatives.

Yep Even. She’d already sat in a waiting room full of pregnant women for half an hour and basically sucked that up without complaint. Only to then be basically told she was unworthy of treatment.

This goes beyond having a room to pray or whatever in the way of reasonable adjustments to allow employees of all back grounds to be able to work. The price is too high for those refused treatment and I would put money on condoms, viagra or those without wedding rings sold pregnancy tests as not facing the same restrictions.

No ones asking them to take it. It's a legal medication and if its sold there it should be sold.

@TinklyLittleLaugh that’s horrendous. It’s a slippery bloody slope this.

where i am, there is a pharmacy which employs a pharmacist who will not give out MAP. this was reported in local paper a year or so ago.

allegedly said pharmacist is also funny about other forms of contraception so will not fill prescriptions for the pill or sell condoms.

its one of the few pharmacies which is still locally run here and is open until 1030pm most nights.

they will point you in the direction of the closest pharmacy which will supply MAP though.

It's not a slippery slope.

The 'opt out' option (for contraception and abortion services only) has been in place for as long as the NHS has offered those services. So decades

HCPs shouid however signpost colleagues who will provide them

Unbelievable!

"No professional can be forced to perform a service that they are morally/ethically opposed to - and that’s right and proper in my opinion, in a democratic society. So we should not force a pharmacist to prescribe something that would conflict with their beliefs." No sorry, I don't agree with that. If your religious beliefs are such that they would affect your ability to FULLY perform that professional role then don't go into that profession! That's a choice they're not made to become pharmacists or radiographers or Drs or whatever else profession this could be an issue in.

Your job is separate to your religion. If you can't separate the 2 choose a job more compatible with your religion.

And yes - it's only ever true of situations regarding women's sexuality!

Well maybe I’ve just been lucky enough too have swerved a brush with being refused. It does make you think though what effect does this have if a woman/girl runs out of time. Or for whatever reason can’t get to the next pharmacy. Or there isn’t another local pharmacy. It’s made me think twice. I don’t agree with the opt out at all. It’s medicine that they aren’t taking, they are potentially exercising control over other individuals because of their religious belief.

Bloody disgusting.

This is what you get when you pander to religious beliefs. At least the atheist hasn't got this shit to fall back on when they try to control others.

A pity active religious types are managing a bit of a resurgence in this country and everyone too polite to make any mention of it. We'll regret it in a couple of decades. There'll be more of this because women's rights are never safe.

Would love to know how many men are refused when trying to buy condoms every year.

Strictly speaking there is no legal requirement for any vendor to agree to any sale of any good or service. There should always be an individual’s right to refuse to serve any customer for any reason. That said perhaps it’s wise to maybe register a complaint with the business. It may be possible to ensure a staff rotation whereby there is at least one person on rota who had no such personal objections.