Good on you! The only things businesses like this will really respond to is the perception that they will lose business because of their policies. And you do need to keep in mind that public relations people are like robots - they do not compute certain concepts like taking responsiblity. Do you or PP for that matter, have a basic letter reiterating the effective points we could use in a letter to Target's exec offices?
My sis (who works for pp) told me that they're trying to push through legislation that would force retail pharmacies to keep a "pharmacist-on-call" in the event that the pharmacist on duty morally objects (or whatever bullshit they're calling it) to a prescription. They would be required to call the on-call pharmacist, who would be required to show up, fill, and give the prescription to the patient within an hour (or something).
I think it's an extremely brilliant idea. From working in a pharmacy, I can tell you that it would put major pressure on pharmacists to just fill the damn prescription, because otherwise everyone else would have to give up their days off. This would cause the morrally righteous pharmacist to be widely hated. :)
I like that idea, but it seems that the "morally righteous" have very little concern for the feelings of others who don't believe as they do. So, it probably wouldn't bother them to interrupt someone else's day off, and in fact might be viewed by the fundie pharmacist as being "just revenge" or something.
I don't know...pharmacists have to work closely with one another, and making an enemy in your pharmacy means that you won't have anyone to cover your shift in the event of an emergency. Even pharmacists who disagree sharply on political matters have to get along. Plus, it's worth considering that pharmacists make salary, not hourly, so the morally righteous pharmacist would be making colleagues work on their days off with no pay. I think few people's objections are so strong that they'd jeopardize their work environment in that way.
The real issue, though, is that if the law passes, it will be the (legal) responsibility of the entire pharmacy, rather than an individual pharmacist, to fill women's prescriptions. So whether or not it pressures the morally righteous, women will benefit.
I'll have to take your word for the work environment at a pharmacy, since I've thankfully never had to work in one. I definitely like the idea of making the entire pharmacy responsible for filling a prescription...definitely a good thing.
Comments 11
Reply
Good suggestion - and thanks!
Reply
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/fillmypillsnow_target_followup2
Reply
Reply
I think it's an extremely brilliant idea. From working in a pharmacy, I can tell you that it would put major pressure on pharmacists to just fill the damn prescription, because otherwise everyone else would have to give up their days off. This would cause the morrally righteous pharmacist to be widely hated. :)
What do you think?
Reply
Reply
The real issue, though, is that if the law passes, it will be the (legal) responsibility of the entire pharmacy, rather than an individual pharmacist, to fill women's prescriptions. So whether or not it pressures the morally righteous, women will benefit.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment