Washington Takes a Big Step Toward Protecting Women
July 26, 2007
New rules governing the behavior of pharmacists went into effect statewide today. The regulations stipulate that no pharmacist may deny a patient access to their medication on moral grounds. In the past, that argument has been used to deny women access to birth control and emergency contraception.
Planned Parenthood has some interesting resources on the topic for women who have been denied their prescriptions.
Now, I don’t think that any professional should be forced to do something against his or her beliefs. But at the same time, if you accept a job, you accept the job description. You don’t get to refuse to do some part of the job simply because your morals forbid it and still expect to be paid. You do have the right to resign in protest, and that’s what I think pharmacists who disagree with today’s rules should do.
An anti-birth control person working in a pharmacy is like a Muslim working as a pig farmer. Incongruous.
Not to mention the fact that there are other health reasons to take birth control pills - hormone regulation, for one. For some women it simply isn’t normal without them.
Patrick: Good point! Some women take them to treat acne. Others to prevent massive cramps during periods.
some–like our friend–take it as part of a program to manage their endometriosis!
i’m so happy to hear that that ridiculous behavior is outlawed. i dont’ know who is responsible for getting that done (i imagine planned parenthood had a role), but thank you!
it’s so important to keep supporting organizations like pp and other women’s advocacy groups. look how easily our basic rights are eroded even when we are vigilant about them. can you imagine without?
sorry i’m writing in my broken english.
“can you imagine without?” is supposed to mean: ‘can you imagine how much faster/easier it would be to take away our rights without these vigilant organizations to protect them?’