Soapbox

Should we dispense with moralising chemists?

Mar 12 08:49am

 

They deal out the medicines the doctors prescribe, but what if they offer their opinion?

In days gone past, pharmacists use to dispense advice on health conditions and treatments. 

One viewer says the chemist refused her daughter contraception saying she was too young, in his opinion. He went on to say the prescribing doctor was morally bankrupt and that her family needed to support abstinence.

The twist is - the teenager is on the pill to treat her acne.

  

How would you feel if a chemist refused contraception or gave you advice on life and relationships? Tell us below...

From the soapbox (where we have received hundreds like this)
SMS: I had similar difficulties with a pharmacist when filling a script for my 3 month old son. The pharmacist tried to force her diagnosis on me. I very rudely told her that the doctor knew the situation and was most likely more qualified than her to make the diagnosis.  As a new mum the last thing you need is more guilt about medicating your child.

Carole F by email It's not only chemists who make decisions based on their moral or cultural beliefs. A friend went to a medical clinic, waited for ages, and requested a script for the contraceptive pill.  The female GP gave her a lecture about using contraception, said it was against her moral beliefs & refused. As a mature woman, my friend was miffed but persisted and got her script.

18 Comments Report Abuse
11. jfaw1957 - Mar 12 12:08pm
As a community pharmacist who does not dispensed the pill - when used for birth control reasons - I can inform readers that many women are shocked to be informed the pill can cause a chemical abortion. In part it is a human rights issue - the embryo's right to live & my right to a conscience.
12. richardumbers@ymail.com - Mar 12 01:29pm
Pharmacists and their customers should dispense with the myth of a neutral point of view. We are all 'coming from somewhere' and it should not be out of bounds for someone to mention religious/environmental/spiritual concerns if these are "reasonably" related. Human relations should not be sanitised
13. fyegoir - Mar 13 05:13pm
WONDER PILLS OF ALL KINDS ROLL UP! ROLL UP! magical cures all ye needs an opinion is based upon ones own basis as foretold by pharmacist as they are informed by makers of drugs sales people profits come first otherwise outa business advise talk is cheap errors at your expense
14. gruntydatsun@ymail.com - Mar 16 08:24am
To the "i know my rights" chemist, people who wants to ram their opinions down anothers throat are better suited to the clergy or politics.

A chemists personal opions are worth zero, and his religious opinions about how xyz cloud riding god would handle it are as useful as the Easter Bunnys opinion
15. combogolong - Mar 16 03:08pm
No; surely the Chemist if he/she owns the pharmacy has the right to make a decision on who he sells his products to. Other stores do so what is the big beef about Chemists. There is no law that says he/she must sell to anyone who comes into his shop.
16. laramsay10@y7mail.com - Mar 16 04:04pm
This is relation to a prescription that was filled incorrectly with disastrous results. My partner was prescribed 10 valium tablets (according to the doctor) and what was dispensed by the pharmacist was a box of 50 tablets!! It was finished in 8 days!!! The pharmacist has a lot to answer for.
17. verin@y7mail.com - Apr 02 09:10am
they are there to do their job,and customers wudnt have a perscription without seein a doc first!my hubby was asked 20 questions wen i sent him to get me morning after pill,im 25 and have two kids,and they shud be thankful that some ppl are doing wats responsible!he was horrified!not their business!
18. asnl45 - Apr 14 07:33am
If a chemist cant not in good conscience dispense one medication over another THEN DONT BE A CHEMIST. All medications have their risks and potential threats to health and life if misused. As a distributor of all drugs they are then just as responsible regardless of the drug.
Leave your comments You must sign in to leave a comment

latest videos

Paulini has lived a life of highs and lows - from amazing musical success down to the trauma of an abusive ex-boyfriend. She shares her story.

Video

today's thought

Friends are like bras - they're always there for support, but sometimes they can be a bit difficult. - Natasha, NSW

Do you have a thought for Mel?

Special Offer

All the latest deals from Jetstar

Latest offers

soapbox

Kurt Fearnley: I was relief teaching in Blayney when I met Kurt as a young school boy. The first thing that struck me was his smile and contagious positive outlook at all times. I see nothing has changed with this outstanding Australian. Although I never saw him again, it is a testament to the power of his personality that I have not forgotten him more than 15 years later.

Email Sunrise