Birth control

[ninafarina]

Color me fucking wrong. I thought they'd never refuse an opportunity to make a buck.

Walgreen's corporate policy permits individual pharmacists to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions on moral grounds.

It's going to be quite inconvenient for me and my baby, but:

B-O-Y-C-O-T-T.

Comments

[janehex]

Really?? How did you find out about this? I will switch to Rite-Aid... I wish there was one that was convenient. Rite-Aid is a BLUE company, anyway. Also there is a small indie pharmacist semi-local to me (on my train line).

I realize this is probably extremely unlikely to ever happen here in San Francisco, but on principle, they should certainly not be allowing insane unethical "moral" bullshit into their medical policy. And I will let them know that in writing.

[xanthussaves]

You realize that Walgreens was bought by the church of the latter day saints (Mormons!) about 5 years ago, right? This is why they no longer sell the drinkin' alcohol.

[ninafarina]

It's corporate policy, so, yep. It's happening in San Francisco, if you've got Walgreen's out there.

[editrix26]

Pharmacists at Walgreens in Illinois are on strike, and Walgreens has scabs covering for them. My HMO requires I go elsewhere, but I won't be buying ANYTHING at Walgreen's for awhile.

[thaitea]

I think that any individual pharmacist is allowed to refuse to give us birth control. An Osco pharmacy was picketed a few months ago in downtown Chicago for this.

[ninafarina]

Well, I got the notice from Minnesota NOW. There's going to be a rally on Saturday. I'm going to find out for sure -- Walgreen's really is the best option for us, so if it's the same deal universally, I'll continue going there.

[thaitea]

It's all very scary. I wish i could simply refuse to certain parts of my job that i thought wasn't right... Like showing up on time, following dress codes, flushing the toilet..

[ninafarina]

Ha! Yep.

I just had an interesting conversation with the pharmacists here. It's pretty murky. The Board of Pharmacy validates the right to refuse, as long as there are alternatives. The pharmacists here think it does vary, state by state, ergo the state-organized protests.

An article I found online from the Washington Post said that Walgreen's, CVS, and K-Mart all have policies for ensuring routes of alternate access if an individual pharmacist wants to refuse. But there might not be any alternative access in small towns.

I'm not understanding why there aren't chains writing it into their personnel policies, something on the lines of: "This is our formulary. By consenting to work here, you consent to dispense all included drugs that are medically appropriate." Or something.

[kudaspeaks]

I'm guessing our Theocratic Overlord Lobbyists have written the statutory provisions allowing pharmacists to opt out of providing medications with big fat clauses stating that such pharmacists cannot be discriminated against by employers. Because really, who would hire them otherwise? I would not be surprised if pharmacies aren't even allowed to inquire about these things. I'm just speculating, I don't know. But it seems that unless there was, the pharmacy boss would completely fire these self-appointed judges and regulators. Wouldn't s/he?

I'm waiting for the first thinlipped Puritan from Bob Jones University School of Pharmacy and Grill to refuse a penicillin scrip because it might be used to remedy syphilis, which is God's way of marking the wicked with boils and insanity. Sex is meant for babies or maiming sinners, no other reason.

[ninafarina]

such pharmacists cannot be discriminated against by employers

Because obstructing another person's choices because they would not be your own would be wrong.

Oh, that nutty right wing! It's like rain on your wedding day!

[doraphilia]

Hi! I'm Dora. I have been livejournal friends with your boyfriend for years but only met him once. You may know me from other livejournal friends such as my brother tritium.

[ninafarina]

Hi! Nice to see you theseways.

Your brother gave me the idea for a riff that I sent to Mr. Timothy McSweeney. (Jane, around here somewhere, gave me the idea for the only other one they took. Apparently, I have no ideas.) Anyway, hello.

[ninafarina]

And P.S. I have only to mention your name around my 2-year-old daughter and she will go into a frenzy of adoration. Trust me.