Protest in Denton today (2/2) 5:30 - Dallas Dance Music - Dallas nightlife, music, tickets, and more

zymote · 02-02-04, 02:52 PM

Hey, I don't know how many of you heard about the pharmacist at Eckerd's that refused to fill a prescription for the morning after pill. It was prescribed to the woman after she had been raped, but the pharmacist felt it was morally wrong to dispense her legally prescribed, FDA approved medication.

Anyway, there's a protest at the Eckerd's on University Dr. today at 5:30pm. If you're as bothered by this as I am, I suggest you put in an appearance.

There's going to be major media coverage, so take a shower and put on some clean clothes. As an added bonus, I'll give 100 cool points to anyone that can get on tonight's news with a sign saying "HAWTALTA," "ECKERD'S = PWN3D," or "IN BEFORE THE LOCK!"

http://dallasobserver.com/issues/200...l/1/index.html

zymote · 02-02-04, 02:57 PM

A while ago, Buzz came across a T-shirt stenciled with the words "Jesus loves you. Everybody else thinks you're an asshole." We didn't buy it, but now we wish we had, because then we could wrap it up and send it off to the fine, morally upstanding pharmacists at the Eckerd drugstore on University Drive in Denton. They've earned it.

Here's how: Last week pharmacists at the store refused to fill a woman's prescription for "morning-after pills," a form of birth control that can be taken up to 72 hours after intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Essentially a high dose of hormones found in regular birth-control pills, one of the drug's potential means of working is to prevent a newly fertilized egg from implanting itself in the womb. Hard-core abortion opponents--who apparently include the Eckerd's pharmacists among their ranks--call that "chemical abortion."

The woman in this case, by the way, had been raped. A doctor at her rape exam wrote the prescription. The pharmacists knew this; they had been told so by a male friend of the woman (Buzz's tipster), who had ferried her to a number of drugstores in Denton looking for one that had the pills in stock. The Eckerd had it, but because of their own moral objections, pharmacists there refused to fill a lawful prescription for an innocent woman in dire need.

The woman's friend, who asked not to be identified, said a woman behind the counter first told him the prescription could be filled in two minutes. Time was pressing, and he had explained the need to her. About 20 minutes later, a pharmacist--not a woman--summoned him to a window. "This medication is designed to end life, and I cannot abide by that. There are three of us here, and we all agree on the issue," the pharmacist said, according to the friend, who at that point began yelling loudly.

Lovely. Score one for the Religious Right and book that fine trio a suite in the bosom of Abraham. Buzz figures that anyone who could ignore basic human decency and professional and medical ethics to further victimize an already traumatized woman in the name of moral certitude must be bound for glory. Or something.

The sooner the better.

We suppose they could have really gotten right with God if they had gone to the car where the woman sat weeping while her friend sought the pill, slapped her and called her Jezebel. What was she thinking, going out and getting herself raped and putting those fine pill peddlers in the awkward position of having to dispense an FDA-approved medicine? Hussy.

Now, if you are a rational person, you may be thinking that Buzz has been taken in by some sort of left wing-inspired urban legend or hoax. Sounds loopy, right? Afraid not. We called the pharmacy in Denton, but the person who answered the phone referred all questions to the company's corporate offices. Joan Gallagher, vice president of corporate communications for Eckerd, confirmed that the company was reviewing the situation, but could not discuss specifics. "Our pharmacists are obligated to comply with our policies and procedures," she said. "We do not support the pharmacists' refusal to fill a prescription based on any religious, political or moral convictions, and any pharmacists who would refuse to comply with that policy would be subject to disciplinary action."

Gay Dodson, executive director of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy in Austin, says pharmacists can refuse to fill prescriptions for medical reasons--for instance, if a patient is given orders for two incompatible drugs. But "there's no conscience clause in Texas law that would allow a pharmacist to refuse under moral grounds," she says.

Yet Dodson also said that this is the first case like this she's heard of. It's likely that if the board were called upon to act, it would simply advise the pharmacist of the law.

As for the woman in question, she finally got her pill from a Walgreens pharmacy across the street, her friend said. That's W-A-L-G-R-E-E-N-S...a fine place to shop for all your pharmaceutical needs in Denton, if you get our drift.

02-02-04, 03:47 PM

The pharmacist is under no obligation to sell anything to anyone.

I can't imagine he won't get a serious talking to from his bosses though.

Adam D · 02-02-04, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xiannaix
The pharmacist is under no obligation to sell anything to anyone.

I can't imagine he won't get a serious talking to from his bosses though.

Maybe not, but it doesn't mean it was the right thing to do.

zymote · 02-02-04, 04:32 PM

As a matter of fact, the pharmacist can only refuse to fill a prescription if it would put the patient in danger from drug interactions or the like. Besides, the morning after pill is just souped up birth control, which they already sell in numerous forms.

Ahh fuck it... refer to the same thread in UB - it's got way more replies that this and I basically just typed an elaboration of the above. Further proof that Useless is the lifeblood of DDM.

02-02-04, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam D
Maybe not, but it doesn't mean it was the right thing to do.

I said nothing about right or wrong

02-02-04, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zymote
As a matter of fact, the pharmacist can only refuse to fill a prescription if it would put the patient in danger from drug interactions or the like. Besides, the morning after pill is just souped up birth control, which they already sell in numerous forms.

Ahh fuck it... refer to the same thread in UB - it's got way more replies that this and I basically just typed an elaboration of the above. Further proof that Useless is the lifeblood of DDM.

Why do you you think a vendor is obligated to sell his product to a potential customer?

Are making a distinction on the fact that the seller is a pharmacist?

I am fairly inclined to believe that a seller can refuse to service to a buyer.

Ryan · 02-02-04, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xiannaix
The pharmacist is under no obligation to sell anything to anyone.

I can't imagine he won't get a serious talking to from his bosses though.

So should there be no obligation for any pharmacist to sell something to someone? What if it was asthma medication or something else that could put the patient's life in jeopardy?

Ryan · 02-02-04, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xiannaix
Why do you you think a vendor is obligated to sell his product to a potential customer?

Are making a distinction on the fact that the seller is a pharmacist?

I am fairly inclined to believe that a seller can refuse to service to a buyer.

I think you may be incorrect here. I do believe there are laws specifying that doctors cannot refuse medical care to someone in need. I am wrong about this?

02-02-04, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ryan
So should there be no obligation for any pharmacist to sell something to someone? What if it was asthma medication or something else that could put the patient's life in jeopardy?

What about it?

While the pharmacist refusing in the situation you describe may be demonstrating a complete lack of morality and decency - he is still not obligate to sell.

Adam D · 02-02-04, 04:55 PM

I think the law permits the pharmacist a right to refuse.

02-02-04, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam D
I think the law permits the pharmacist a right to refuse.

Of course it does - no seller is under any obligation to sell to a buyer merely because the buyer makes an offer to purchase.

02-02-04, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ryan
I think you may be incorrect here. I do believe there are laws specifying that doctors cannot refuse medical care to someone in need. I am wrong about this?

Until you can find me the law I'll only say I've never heard of such a thing - regarding pharmacies.

A hospital receiving public funds may not refuse treatment to patients based on ability to pay.

But a drug is a drug - it is a product - at no point have ever heard that a pharmacy is under obligation by law to dispense to a script holder.

Ryan · 02-02-04, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xiannaix
Until you can find me the law I'll only say I've never heard of such a thing - regarding pharmacies.

A hospital receiving public funds may not refuse treatment to patients based on ability to pay.

But a drug is a drug - it is a product - at no point have ever heard that a pharmacy is under obligation by law to dispense to a script holder.

Well, I can't find a law, so maybe you're right. I do think that this was irresponsible and unethical of the pharmacist. Had he been my employee, he'd be out looking for a new job, and he wouldn't be using me as a referral.

Ryan · 02-02-04, 06:00 PM

Whoa, I just made a rather interesting discovery. My next question to you, xiannaix, was whether or not you felt that a doctor's hippocratic oath would allow them to refuse to treat a patient. Upon looking up the hippocratic oath for doctors, I read a line stating "I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy." So, it seems that, in fact, it would be against the hippocratic oath to administer an abortion. I realize this was a pharmacist, so the argument really does not hold, but I still think it's interesting. Anyway, I'm already so far off topic I don't even remember the point of this thread.

02-02-04, 02:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
zymote Yes We Did! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: ATX Posts: 5,344	Protest in Denton today (2/2) 5:30 Hey, I don't know how many of you heard about the pharmacist at Eckerd's that refused to fill a prescription for the morning after pill. It was prescribed to the woman after she had been raped, but the pharmacist felt it was morally wrong to dispense her legally prescribed, FDA approved medication. Anyway, there's a protest at the Eckerd's on University Dr. today at 5:30pm. If you're as bothered by this as I am, I suggest you put in an appearance. There's going to be major media coverage, so take a shower and put on some clean clothes. As an added bonus, I'll give 100 cool points to anyone that can get on tonight's news with a sign saying "HAWTALTA," "ECKERD'S = PWN3D," or "IN BEFORE THE LOCK!" http://dallasobserver.com/issues/200...l/1/index.html __________________ Zenergy Events ___________________________________________ Parties I'm Attending: 12.11.10 - dAlice in Whomperland - Tribal Elements - Dallas

02-02-04, 02:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
zymote Yes We Did! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: ATX Posts: 5,344	A while ago, Buzz came across a T-shirt stenciled with the words "Jesus loves you. Everybody else thinks you're an asshole." We didn't buy it, but now we wish we had, because then we could wrap it up and send it off to the fine, morally upstanding pharmacists at the Eckerd drugstore on University Drive in Denton. They've earned it. Here's how: Last week pharmacists at the store refused to fill a woman's prescription for "morning-after pills," a form of birth control that can be taken up to 72 hours after intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Essentially a high dose of hormones found in regular birth-control pills, one of the drug's potential means of working is to prevent a newly fertilized egg from implanting itself in the womb. Hard-core abortion opponents--who apparently include the Eckerd's pharmacists among their ranks--call that "chemical abortion." The woman in this case, by the way, had been raped. A doctor at her rape exam wrote the prescription. The pharmacists knew this; they had been told so by a male friend of the woman (Buzz's tipster), who had ferried her to a number of drugstores in Denton looking for one that had the pills in stock. The Eckerd had it, but because of their own moral objections, pharmacists there refused to fill a lawful prescription for an innocent woman in dire need. The woman's friend, who asked not to be identified, said a woman behind the counter first told him the prescription could be filled in two minutes. Time was pressing, and he had explained the need to her. About 20 minutes later, a pharmacist--not a woman--summoned him to a window. "This medication is designed to end life, and I cannot abide by that. There are three of us here, and we all agree on the issue," the pharmacist said, according to the friend, who at that point began yelling loudly. Lovely. Score one for the Religious Right and book that fine trio a suite in the bosom of Abraham. Buzz figures that anyone who could ignore basic human decency and professional and medical ethics to further victimize an already traumatized woman in the name of moral certitude must be bound for glory. Or something. The sooner the better. We suppose they could have really gotten right with God if they had gone to the car where the woman sat weeping while her friend sought the pill, slapped her and called her Jezebel. What was she thinking, going out and getting herself raped and putting those fine pill peddlers in the awkward position of having to dispense an FDA-approved medicine? Hussy. Now, if you are a rational person, you may be thinking that Buzz has been taken in by some sort of left wing-inspired urban legend or hoax. Sounds loopy, right? Afraid not. We called the pharmacy in Denton, but the person who answered the phone referred all questions to the company's corporate offices. Joan Gallagher, vice president of corporate communications for Eckerd, confirmed that the company was reviewing the situation, but could not discuss specifics. "Our pharmacists are obligated to comply with our policies and procedures," she said. "We do not support the pharmacists' refusal to fill a prescription based on any religious, political or moral convictions, and any pharmacists who would refuse to comply with that policy would be subject to disciplinary action." Gay Dodson, executive director of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy in Austin, says pharmacists can refuse to fill prescriptions for medical reasons--for instance, if a patient is given orders for two incompatible drugs. But "there's no conscience clause in Texas law that would allow a pharmacist to refuse under moral grounds," she says. Yet Dodson also said that this is the first case like this she's heard of. It's likely that if the board were called upon to act, it would simply advise the pharmacist of the law. As for the woman in question, she finally got her pill from a Walgreens pharmacy across the street, her friend said. That's W-A-L-G-R-E-E-N-S...a fine place to shop for all your pharmaceutical needs in Denton, if you get our drift. __________________ Zenergy Events ___________________________________________ Parties I'm Attending: 12.11.10 - dAlice in Whomperland - Tribal Elements - Dallas

02-02-04, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
zymote Yes We Did! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: ATX Posts: 5,344	As a matter of fact, the pharmacist can only refuse to fill a prescription if it would put the patient in danger from drug interactions or the like. Besides, the morning after pill is just souped up birth control, which they already sell in numerous forms. Ahh fuck it... refer to the same thread in UB - it's got way more replies that this and I basically just typed an elaboration of the above. Further proof that Useless is the lifeblood of DDM. __________________ Zenergy Events ___________________________________________ Parties I'm Attending: 12.11.10 - dAlice in Whomperland - Tribal Elements - Dallas

02-02-04, 04:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
Adam D Feline Leukemia Survivor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Law School Posts: 7,750	I think the law permits the pharmacist a right to refuse. __________________ This is my signature.

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02-02-04, 03:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
xiannaix Guest Posts: n/a	The pharmacist is under no obligation to sell anything to anyone. I can't imagine he won't get a serious talking to from his bosses though.

02-02-04, 06:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ryan Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,783	Whoa, I just made a rather interesting discovery. My next question to you, xiannaix, was whether or not you felt that a doctor's hippocratic oath would allow them to refuse to treat a patient. Upon looking up the hippocratic oath for doctors, I read a line stating "I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy." So, it seems that, in fact, it would be against the hippocratic oath to administer an abortion. I realize this was a pharmacist, so the argument really does not hold, but I still think it's interesting. Anyway, I'm already so far off topic I don't even remember the point of this thread.