People's Pharmacy

For more up-to-date information on drugs, herbs and home remedies visit The People's Pharmacy Home Site at peoplespharmacy.us

Can Pharmacists Refuse to Fill Prescriptions?

Posting Date: 05/23/2005

Q. I have been reading about pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for birth control pills on moral grounds. I find this attitude infuriating!

They would be amusing in their self-importance if there were not dire consequences for the customers in small towns who don?t have much choice in drug stores. Pharmacists should stick to dispensing pills instead of their personal criteria for eternal salvation.

A. The issue of pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for ethical or religious reasons has a lot of people excited. We checked with David Work, Executive Director of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, one of the country?s experts in pharmacy law.

He suggested that pharmacists should think carefully about refusing to fill a prescription for contraceptives: ?If the woman cannot find an alternative source in a timely manner and turns out to be pregnant, she could have a cause of action against the pharmacist.

?There is precedence, of sorts, in a Michigan case where a pharmacist made an error on a prescription for oral contraceptives. He dispensed a tranquilizer by mistake and the patient became pregnant. She brought litigation and obtained substantial damages for the cost of raising the child.?

Q. I know that aspirin reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer, but I am confused about the best dose. Some experts recommend a baby aspirin while others suggest a regular aspirin daily.

I am prone to stomach irritation from chronic NSAID use. How can I get the benefits of aspirin and minimize the risks? Is buffered aspirin better?

A. Even low-dose aspirin (81 mg) can cause digestive tract irritation for some people. That?s why no one should undertake a lifelong aspirin program without medical supervision.

There is still a lot of confusion about the ideal dose. The cardiovascular benefits of aspirin are detectable at surprisingly low levels (40 mg), but some people are resistant and may need higher amounts.