LIFE'S A BITCHThe customer is always right, even in Lloyds
It's against my religion, said the pharmacist who clearly believes her rights are more important than her customer's and refused a Sheffield woman her medication.
You're wondering what on earth it was that mum of two Janine Deeley was asking for, right? Well, it wasn't some controversial euthanasia drug, or the pregnancy-terminating morning-after tablet.
She wanted contraceptive pills. Though I can't see it being any of the pharmacist's business whatever Janine was queueing for, if it been prescribed to her by a doctor.
In essence, to my mind the woman behind the counter at Lloyd's chemists in Duke Street was saying that her personal beliefs ranked higher than both Janine's wellbeing, and the decision taken by a doctor on what was best for his patient.
Janine was left fuming, just as I would have been.
Everyone's views and beliefs should be respected. We live in a society that should be multi-everything. But why does tolerance and respect breed another form of intolerance? A small number of the very devout expect to be able to inflict the consequences of their beliefs on us.
The contraceptive pill must be one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the Western world; I assume this pharmacist must have to say no on a very regular basis.
Which begs another important question; how many teenagers has this chemist denied it to?
I don't understand why someone with devout beliefs would choose to take up a profession in which their religion could so easily come into conflict with their duties.
You would think it only common sense to opt for a job that does not compromise them. And you might expect the regulating body for pharmacists to rule that serving the needs of the public is more important than the beliefs of the pharmacist.
But what it says is this: "The Code of Ethics and Standards does not require a pharmacist to provide a service that is contrary to their religious beliefs, but any attempt by a pharmacist to impose their beliefs on a member of the public seeking their professional guidance, or a failure to have systems in place to advise of alternative sources for the service required, would be of great concern and could form the basis of a complaint of professional misconduct."
That's about as difficult to decipher as a doctor's handwriting, but basically it means that because Janine was told to try another chemist or come back the next day, the pharmacist acted within her rights.
The absolute irony, though, is that Janine wasn't trying to stop herself from getting pregnant. The contraceptive pill was to control endometriosis, a painful condition linked to her periods.
How the hell can that have compromised this judgemental pharmacist's beliefs?
Got a view? Add your comment below.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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