The Right of Conscience

Crosswalk ^ | 26 May 05 | Albert Mohler

[teenyelliott]

Pharmacists should have to do their job, just like everyone else. If it is legal (which is a different subject), they have a duty to fill any prescription.

Would you agree or disagree that anyone in any job should be allowed to refuse doing any task based on personal conviction? If so, you could have absolute chaos. People anywhere could just say, "Nope. Not gonna do that."

I understand there are bigger issues at hand here, but you have to consider the ramifications of allowing people to tell their bosses no, just because (fill in the blank).

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Simple solution. Don't stock the drug.

You can't issue it if you don't carry it.

[xzins]

I think that many pharmacies are private businesses, and that it's the business owner's decision what inventory he will carry and what inventory he will not carry.

It's like prosecuting a hardward store because they don't carry railroad spikes.

[xzins]

See #4

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

but you have to consider the ramifications of allowing people to tell their bosses no

The Governor of Illinois is their boss?

[teenyelliott]

Well, no. What I am saying is if a pharmacy stocks the morning after pill (or any addictive drug, or anything else someone could object to), the pharmacist should not be allowed to refuse based on personal beliefs.

Now, if a pharmacy chooses not to stock the drug, I think that should be their right.

[teenyelliott]

see #7

[MamaTexan]

Should pharmacists be required to dispense so-called "emergency contraceptives" even if it violates their deepest convictions?

Interesting question.

On the one hand, you're telling someone that in order to keep their job, they have to give a woman the means to kill her unborn child (if she has actually conceived.)

On the other hand, if a pharmacist has an objection to giving out the pill, he should either work for a company that doesn't require it or start his own business.

I could see a Christian Pharmacy doing quite well in some areas.

[muir_redwoods]

If you are a conscientious vegan. don't take a job at Outback. If you won't sell the drugs find a job that doesn't require you to sell the drugs. How long before some pharmacist decides to second guess a doctor and refuse to provide oxycontin?

For the record, I am ethically opposed to the morning after pill as well.

[k2blader]

Of course pharmacists should have to do their jobs. But if you own your own pharmacy, i.e. you're the boss, why shouldn't you get to decide what to sell?

[k2blader]

Ah, that 'splains it better, thanks. I think we agree.

[xzins]

Obviously, this forcing to sell law is more onerous for a private business owner pharmacist, because it does violate his right to run his business as he sees fit.

For the employee of a chain that does sell the morning after pill, then there's a difficult decision to make. Since they should not participate in an abortion, then they should not sell the pill. Since it is a requirement of their employment, then they should find other employment.

If they hand it off to a colleague on duty who has no ethical qualms, then are they sufficiently distancing themselves? That's a tough call.

It's like being a pacifist and working at GM. GM makes Hummers sold to the military. Should the pacifist resign?

[teenyelliott]

see post #7.

[k2blader]

It's like being a pacifist and working at GM. GM makes Hummers sold to the military. Should the pacifist resign?

If the pacifist is morally opposed to the fact that his company sells Hummers to the military, and he chooses to not sell Hummers to the military against his boss's wishes, yes, he should resign, or face being fired.

[teenyelliott]

Yes, yes, yes. We do agree.

[xzins]

And what if he works on Pontiacs but not on Hummers? Is there such a thing as "sufficient distance from personal involvement?"

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Well, in any event, neither the pharmacist, nor the pacifist autoworker, are employed by the the Governor of Illinois.

He should STFU and sit down.

[xzins]

That is another issue. Good point. Why should a governor's executive order be a legal requirement for a private business?

[Bogolyubski]

It's not that simple. While most pharmacies are indeed privately-owned businesses, the state often mandates that they must carry certain drugs (like the morning-after pill) for medicaid patients.