Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Care2 Email

I received the following email this morning from Care2.org:

It's commonsense that people should have ready access to their doctor-prescribed medication.

The anti-choice movement doesn't think so. They believe pharmacists should have the right to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions on "personal, moral or religious grounds." As a result, pharmacists around the country are refusing to fill their customer's birth control prescriptions and states such as Washington and Mississippi are supporting them.

Stop states legislatures from legalizing moral subjectivity. Support Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act Now.

In Madison Wisconsin, pharmacist Neil Noesen refused to fill a woman's birth-control prescription. He also failed to transfer it to another pharmacist or return it to her. By the time she was finally able to get her prescription filled (at the SAME pharmacy by a different pharmacist), she had already missed a pill because of the delay.

For victims of rape, women seeking emergency contraception, and the 80% of American women who use prescription birth control, this is a huge problem. Where can women go, if not to their pharmacy, for contraceptive options?

Don't give conservative states the chance to legally compromise your access to birth control. Sign the petition calling on Congress to support the Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act to ensure that every woman in every state can get her prescription for birth control filled, whether or not an individual pharmacist has an objection.

Isn't this a commonsense measure you can support?

Lauren Alvarez,Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

PS. According to the American Pharmacists Association, all practicing pharmacists must pledge to "assume ultimate responsibility for assuring that his/her patient has been able to obtain, and is appropriately using, any drugs and related products." Don't let pharmacists abandon their promise. Sign the petition: http://go.care2.com/e/m4m/qe/s045

Need Plan B? He's not selling

It seems that regardless of the FDA's approval for over the counter sales of Plan B. Some Washington State pharmacists feel it is their moral authority to limit women's access to this highly researched pregnancy prevention medication.

This is not an 'abortion pill', this is a pill that when taken 72 hours after unprotected sex PREVENTS fertilization and/or implantation. The same result can be achieved by taking large doses of birth control pills but this requires a Doctor's perscription and exam prior to being given a perscription for birth control bills and generally creates a situation where women are not able to gain access within the 72 hour window.

I've decided that I will be keeping a list of all the pharmacies that are refusing to carry Plan B, because as pharmastists they are choosing to hinder the private choices of their female customers and I believe women should all have that knowledge when choosing where to spend their money. Remember now that it is an over the counter medication it will not be covered under prescription plans so this is completely an out of pocket expense.

I will be sending Mr. Ramseth, the owner and pharmastist at Convington Pharmacy a nice note letting him know that his moral authority over women in our community amounts to nothing more than a clear choice to shop else where.

If you would like to send him a note as well, here is the contact information for the pharmacy as well as additional pharmacies that have refused to carry or dispense on prescriptions for Plan B.

Convington Pharmacy
17239 Southeast 272nd Street
Covington, WA 98042
(253) 631-1200
(425) 235-4916 (fax)

Albertsons-Sav-On - Food Centers
6100 Pacific Avenue Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 491-8283

Rite Aid Pharmacies
691 Sleater Kinney Road Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 491-4111

Walgreen's Drug Store
4540 Lacey Boulevard Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 438-2020