In which there should probably be more angryface.

[hoveringsombrero]

I abort Schroedinger's children, every month.

Although, if I'm not mistaken, since I live in a state where PP doesn't get funding, I'll be ok.
Free to keep aborting the possiblity of children, so long as I pay for it.

Comments

[tocard.livejournal.com]

I truly hope that she follows through on this, also, I hope she gets national media attention before the pharmacy fires her, and then, I hope that she wins a bundle of money in a lawsuit against that pharmacy, aquiring additional media attention.

[eris.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, most pharmacists who oppose the idea of allowing personal opinion to affect their jobs, are opposed on a purely ethical basis, and would be just as opposed towards bias they agree with.

Therefore refusing to dispense viagra, because one is a lesbian, is the same thing as refusing to dispense birth control because one is pro-life.

[tocard.livejournal.com]

I interpreted that entirely differently. It sounded much more like this girl is a supremely cool chick. (at least for coming up the idea)

It seems to me to not be that she is refusing to provide viagra to lesbians....

but that she is refusing to provide viagra to men, on the grounds that "they are not practicing my preferred method of birth control" which, she feels should be lesbian sex.

Therefore, it seems, she will not be providing birth control to anyone who does not appear to be practicing lesbian sex ... you know... on moral grounds.

I understand your point though, about pharmacists being entirely opposed to letting personal opinion affect their jobs at all, but it sounds more like this girl is fed up with the religious right whack jobs, and would like to figure out a way to bring a little balance to the force.

Unfortunately, your point there about not allowing personal opinion to affect one's job is a "moral high road" that serves as a great excuse for NOT taking the action she defined in her blog - which would be awesome.

I often prefer a moral low road, and firmly believe that sometimes it does take two wrongs to make a right. (or at least it might take a second wrong to get some attention on the issue)

[eris.livejournal.com]

Refusing to dispense on moral grounds
is refusing to dispense on moral grounds
is refusing to dispense on moral grounds.

Not allowing one's personal opinion to affect one's job is part of being a pharmacist, it's not a moral high road, it's their job.

There is no "oh it's ok if it's the CORRECT opinion" because there's no such thing. Each person's individual set of morals and beliefs is correct and true for them. Whether it be believing birth control pills to be a form of abortion, or believing that lesbian sex is the proper method of birth control.

Now granted, she does seem like a really cool chick, and just writing the letter would be awesome, if she actually follows through with it, I would be highly entertained and hope it made an impact.

However, just because she is displaying an opinion I agree with, will not make her actions any less ethically wrong. And still would make her a bad pharmacist who I would not do business with.

And lastly, I don't know where you got" refusing to provide viagra to lesbians" from, I can't figure that one out.

[tocard.livejournal.com]

"And lastly, I don't know where you got" refusing to provide viagra to lesbians" from, I can't figure that one out."

The last sentence in your first reply was:
"Therefore refusing to dispense viagra, because one is a lesbian, is the same thing..."

Confusing phrasing, and also the title being "In which there should probably be more angryface." when her post made me smile in amusement... I thought maybe you might have misinterpreted what she was saying...
I wasn't trying to insult your intelligence... That reply just threw me off... Sometimes you seem a little annoyed at my replies to your blog, but trust me, I wouldn't regularly read it if I didn't agree with at least 99% of what you have to say (while simultaneously being amused)

As far as to what you are saying here though, again I agree with your premise... "Not allowing one's personal opinion to affect one's job is part of being a pharmacist, it's not a moral high road, it's their job."

I absolutely agree with this IDEA, however, right-wing douchebag politicians have obviously gone and, as she aptly points out, changed the laws to allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense. So, doing one's job correctly, IS now a moral high ground. The religious right has gone and fucked everything up (when DON'T they?).

So, in principle... Yes, I would like to see her do the right thing and just do her job properly. As a freedom lover... This is definitely the right thing to do.

However, as a disgruntled vindictive son of a bitch, I would like to see her show these religious fucks what it's like when their bullshit gets twisted around and turned back in such a way that it fucks THEM over too.

It's also because I know that if she were to start refusing to sell Viagra because she believes her "preferred method of contraception should be lesbian sex" isn't exactly something that is going to catch on and further the movement of douchebag pharmacists who decide to refuse to dispense on moral grounds....

In fact, MORE LIKELY, she'd accomplish getting some media attention, and pointing out how utterly fucking ridiculous it is to have a law that allows pharmacists to refuse to do their jobs correctly and not get fired, and possibly help to get those laws reversed, and get loser pharmacists that won't do their jobs... fired... like they should be.

[eris.livejournal.com]

You is imagining annoyance.

My angryface was at the contraceptives = abortion ridiculousness.

I agree that the idea is fantastic, and I would be highly amused to have it put into practice, but then she should be fired.

Every pharmacist who refuses to dispense based on personal opinion over professional opinion should be fired. I would support pharmacys violating law to fire pharmacists who refuse to dispense on personal opinions/beliefs. Risking loss of license and lawsuits to upload the integrity of the profession. I think that would make far more of an impression than yet another pharmacist refusing to dispense for personal reasons.

Personal beliefs != patient's best interests.

[scsi.livejournal.com]

Hi! Real life Farm-Assist talking.

Any time you are putting your own personal two-bits in the way of your PROFESSIONAL duty to service the well-being of the public, you should be drug out in the back room, stripped down, and have your face run over with a redneck 4x4.

This is no different then not allowing gays to marry or blacks to vote. People in power putting their own 0.02 in the way of their jobs and the well-being/choices of others. If you have some 'moral' issue with your job, then find a new job and make room for people who put the well being of others before what someone else has spoon fed them. Its like a doctor refusing to look at diabetic ulcers on the feet because their religious beliefs say that the feet are the devil (or dirty).

Nothing gets me more pissed then when I hear about some uppity pharmacist berating some poor scared 16 year old who let her hormones get the best of her and want some Plan-B or some contraceptives. I see enough abused, neglected and unwanted children every day, the world doesn't need a few more.

Yes, I dispense Plan-B, I'm even licensed to give Plan-B without a doctors prescription (for those under 18 who cant buy it OTC). I've given the after-meds after RU486 (abortion pill) numerous times. The girls are scared, want someone to talk to, and really have nobody else to turn to. Their soon-to-be baby-daddy skipped town already and the last thing they need is someone who they have learned their whole life that they can trust PREACHING at them while rubbing their noses in the mess they made. THEN REFUSING TO HELP THEM!

Oh, and I'm a gun-toting, God fearing Republican (actually, old-time Republican, more libertarian now). Yes, there are a few of us sane right-wingers left in the world.

I'm with eris on this. I'd rather see a pharmacist make a stand by telling the powers at be to 'eat shit' and putting the patient and the profession first (in the face of stupid laws like contraceptives are 'abortion') rather than contributing to the ruinage of some poor girl's life just so they feel better about themselves. Its selfish, its unprofessional and its a disgrace to my profession.

Oh, and this whole immature "lesbian sex" thing will probably backfire and make this person the laughing stock of the profession. Way to give the zealots more ammo to fire at pharmacists and at lesbians *sigh*.

[tocard.livejournal.com]

I wholeheartedly agree with your decidedly libertarian viewpoint on this. Businesses should not have their rights to choose competent employees crippled by laws written by clueless bureaucrats with moral agendas.

It would be a hell of a lot better to see these businesses break bad laws en masse and (like you said) would make a much bigger statement, unfortunately that is also a lot less likely to happen. I'd also like to see radio and television bradcasters stop allowing the FCC to dictate their content, and I'd like to see airlines stop letting the TSA screw over and inconvenience their customers, but corporations tend to be the last ones to break laws. They only tend to lobby to get new ones enacted. ...and that summons my angry face... :(