Does the law require all pharmacies to stock all legal drugs at all times? I think not. Could it do so justly? I think not. Can the law --- justly --- require pharmacists to violate their professional ethics, and fill prescriptions known to be harmful or fatal? I think not.
What is more important: to act legally, or to act justly? The latter.
True, the law should be overturned. But until then, conscientious pharmacists must resist.
“Does the law require all pharmacies to stock all legal drugs at all times? I think not. Could it do so justly? I think not. Can the law -— justly -— require pharmacists to violate their professional ethics, and fill prescriptions known to be harmful or fatal? I think not.
What is more important: to act legally, or to act justly? The latter.”
Is the drug harmful or fatal to the patient? If the doctor misdiagnosed or misprescribed, then fine, otherwise, it’s the patient’s right to have the prescription filled. The pharmacies don’t have to stock the medications, but if they do, the pharmacists, as licensed by the state, DO have to fill the prescription. If the pharmacists don’t want to fill the scripts, then they need to find employment with a pharmacy that doesn’t stock the items they won’t fill. They still have a legal obligation to send patients to the stores that do, though.
“True, the law should be overturned. But until then, conscientious pharmacists must resist.”
Then they should, and will lose their jobs, and maybe their licenses.