I read through quite a bit on PennyWit's site to try to get the full flavor of your perspective. I had also listened to a discussion on this topic on the radio the other day.

My position is not far from one portion of your argument, but from a different angle. If a person is licensed -AND- working for someone else - they should be expected to follow the policies and rules provided by that entity. So a pharmacist in a Walgreen's / Eckard's / XYZ drug store is responsible for filling the prescriptions as part of their licensed and paid-for role.

Someone who owns their own pharmacy, and has a policy of not filling certain prescriptions, and makes those policies known to their customers, is not morally obligated to fill anyone's prescription for birth control devices of any kind. They are also free to lose business due to their decisions.

I don't think that the pharmacist is required to fill any prescription by law - the licensing is to permit them to do so, it does not throw them in jail for failing to do so. The employer, however, if there is one, may fire them for failing to meet their job requirements, in my opinion.

Thanks, Jack. I'll head over immediately. This'll be good :-)

Wow. I liked the Christian Scientist oncologist analogy. (Although I do have every sympathy for Mr Batwing, and yourself, regarding the health of your parents)

It's unbelievable that this sort of thing should happen in a nation so proud of Freedom.

I'm more along the lines of Barb.

I know of an OBGYN who has his own practice, but refuses to perform abortions or give out birth control. It's a Catholic practice, the way he sees it. It is his own practice, so he can do as he pleases.

I know of another OBGYN who won't even SPEAK about IVF or any other methods of trying to get pregnant other than sex. My issue with her is the fact she doesn't let her patients know that up front, whereas at least the doctor from the preceding paragraph lets his patients know when they check in.

If the pharmacist had his own place, then he could do as he pleased. He has no moral obligation. For that matter he could put up a sign and say, "I NEVER fill prescriptions for Oxycontin". HOWEVER, that changes when he goes to work for someone else, where the rules are laid out and the customers have expectations.

That said, I believe the young women whose example was used at Pennywit (I read about it when it occured) has the right to file some sort of charge... his not transferring the script readily for her, should be against the law.