Christ. They're at it again.
Pharmacists in Washington State have gone to court to affirm their right to make moral judgments about clients and deny Plan B contraception.
It's not like I haven't discussed this before.
In a way, I don't want to write about this one more time. I just want to end the way I did last time: get the fuck out of my uterus.
But, that isn't going to work.
Stormans v. Selecky is on its way to the Ninth District Court of Appeals, which means, yep, it's on its way to the Supreme Court. Regardless of who wins the case, it'll be appealed.
At issue is this. The pharmacists and Ralph's Thriftway pharmacy have decided that Plan B contraception is really an abortifacient. Even though scientific evidence does not confirm their opinion. It is possible that it prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall, but it's also equally true that it may prevent a woman from ovulating. Plan B, or the Morning After Pill (despite "The Walking Dead's STUPID confusion of it with RU-486) is NOT the abortion pill.
It's the pill that stands between a rapist impregnating his victim. Or a woman whose method of birth control failed (condoms break, diaphragms come out) from having to get an abortion should she end up with an unwanted pregnancy.
But really, this is besides the point.
I'm sorry. You're a pharmacist.
You are not the moral arbiter of who gets to take what drug.
I mean, gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins: is it against Christian ethics for a pharmacist to fill a prescription for Type II diabetes drugs for a morbidly obese person?
And why does a 75-year old man need Viagra? He shouldn't be making babies at his age anyway. And, according to certain Christian precepts, you should not be having sex unless you're planning to make babies.
So, why is it that the only thing that the Christian Medical Association objects to is Plan B?
Could it be because they have problems with women having sex?
Nah. That couldn't be it. I'm sure they celebrate sexual women.
Damn. I want to write something profound, make the point that they should recognize their hypocrisy and get on with their jobs.
But they're not listening.
What was that I said before?
Get the fuck out of my uterus.
Yep. That's it.
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Comments
Now, I am all in support of a pharmacist standing up for their right to run a business how they please, but I am also in support of them not being able to collect medicare and medicaid dollars while practicing discrimination. They can just go private, and then that will take them off the moral ambiguity highway of when it's "right" and when it's "wrong" to take money to help people.
I am not against the sale of viagra, wait until you start dating men in their 60's before you condemn that one. (just being silly)
rated with love
And things did not turn out so well for Bartleby.
Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.
Maybe a pharmacist who makes decisions that overrule the doctor needs to be legally liable for those decisions. Maybe they should pay for their smugness, if their decision harms someone.
R
Before I bring a child into this world, I want a nation that works for ALL citizens, not just the rich ones!
Pharmacists, if you can't handle the morality of dispensing legal and prescribed medications, KINDLY GO INTO SOME OTHER FIELD OF WORK!
Honestly, sometimes I think Pro-choice women should hold a sit-in at these drugstores. And refuse to leave until their prescribed contraceptives are handed over. Wall Street ain't the only place that needs some Occupying going on. We need to be loud and inconvenient and raise our voices about this persistent B. S.
rated
????????????? Wanna clarify that a bit, hon?
They have a policy of Don't Fuck, Don't Tell, or something like that. Hetero sex is dangerous, and leads to disease and unwanted children, as well as depression and shattered dreams. The entire fear tactic model of patriarchal power is based on the fear/reality of having unplanned, undesired progeny- and it could happen any time you unzip your pants in mixed company. If you could control your life by controlling basic things like fertility, you might not follow the other rules, either, out of mortal fear- because you don't have it any more. I think it's amazing that they are ultimately supporting gay relationships and autoerogenous exploration in this manner. (Really I think it is because the men wish there were more virgins to go around and they think this will help them make their minds up to stay chaste).
After Kagan redacted it to not say no ob/gyn could see a use for this procedure, the pro-choice groups jumped on the bandwagon to raise money. Women's choice is being limited! Abortion rights are shrinking! Donate so we can fight, fight, fight for your right to dismember a nearly full-term fetus.
I'm sure this is the same thing. The Anti-abortion groups are using this as an excuse to raise cash and fund themselves. If the country came to a compromise that most people could live with, the pro-life and pro-choice organizations would shrink in size and important --- might even dwindle into insignificance and no organization will every let that happen without a fight.
So, Americans, wherever you stand, keep donating because the fight has to stay alive.
You're right, I'm sure this will go to the supreme court, and I'd hate to see what happens when it does.
r. for raw power.
I like Margaret's idea.
My own personal annoyance is diabetes. Even in my short career, I have worked with over 20 non-compliant diabetics. My first instinct is to not work with them at all. To refuse them treatment, because basically (in my view) we are walking around after a person with a razorblade determinedly cutting themselves up and offering bandaids. I feel it's a waste of medical resources and counter productive until they are willing to actively be a part of their care. (not to mention dangerous to our own ability to care for ourselves if our license gets taken away due to a medical crisis)
That said. I am not them. I cannot make the moral choice to deny them care based on my own values. End of story. With medical care it really is that simple. You are not allowed to pick and choose your patients. You get who comes, and you are responsible for them, even if they are not making the choices you would make. It's in the US Patients' Bill of Rights http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Patients%27_Bill_of_Rights "obtain the prescription drugs their doctor prescribes" The pharmacists who refuse their patients medicine are violating their rights to healthcare.
I'd like to add that, based on Barbara's logic, we could just as easily say that, if you feel that you can't do your job because of your conscience, when you are well aware of the rules and laws of your profession, then you should feel free to find another profession. That is, after all, your choice.