The Pharmacy Morality

So.... this is the response I got from WalMart regarding prescription-control, and the petition I signed. Just one more reason to boycott WalMart. The way I look at it, if the company is allowing their pharmacists to refuse prescriptions for birth control, then pharmacists have carte blanche approval to refuse anything. Even though they must "find another pharmacist," how much time will that take, and how much inconvenience will patients need to endure before that is done?

This is much bigger than just prescriptions -- this is about personal freedoms. And this one even affects the doctors you and I trust to do what's best for us. Why should anyone else have the right to veto that?

Following are my original message to WalMart and other pharmacies, and the WalMart response.

-----Original Message-----
From: Walmart.com Help [mailto:help@walmart.com]
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 7:13 AM
To: Mounce, Sali
Subject: Re: Please protect women's access to their prescriptions

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting us at Walmart.com regarding women?s
prescriptions for birth control. Your comments and concerns are very
important to us as we strive to meet your needs.

Wal-Mart does not carry emergency contraceptives. Our pharmacists may
decline to fill a prescription based on personal convictions. However,
they must find another pharmacist, either at Wal-Mart or another
pharmacy, who can assist you by filling your prescription.

Again, we thank you for your comments regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

Customer Service at Walmart.com

My Original Message Follows:
------------------------

March 31, 2005

Dear WalMart Pharmacy,

All over the country I have noticed a disturbing trend of
pharmacies refusing to fill women's prescriptions for birth
control. When a woman and her doctor decide that a
prescription for contraception is in the woman's best
interest, a third party has no right to override that
decision. Pharmacies must ensure that patients get their
doctor-prescribed medication without delay or
inconvenience. I ask that your company assure me and your
other customers that no woman seeking prescription
contraception will be turned away by your company's
pharmacies.

As a customer, I want all of my prescriptions to be filled:
I don't care what you believe, you should not care what I
believe. But if you're going to become a service person,
such as a pharmacist, then you should determine before you
go the distance if you can fulfill the requirements of the
job. Or don't TAKE the job.

No doubt a majority of your customers take for granted that
women should be able to receive their birth control despite
the personal beliefs of the individual pharmacist. Timely
access to contraception is central to women's health,
autonomy, and equality. We must trust women and their
doctors to make their own reproductive health decisions.

I thank you, in advance, for protecting your customer's
health by ensuring your pharmacy will guarantee women have
unhindered access to their prescribed medications.

Thank you for your attention and support.

Sali Mounce