Washington State Readers--Protect Your Right to Have Prescriptions Filled

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13017249.post-1145327117382774262006-04-17T19:13:00.000-07:002006-04-17T19:29:33.043-07:00Washington State Readers--Protect Your Right to Have Prescriptions FilledThe Washington State Board of Pharmacy will be making important decisions this week on whether or not pharmacists in the state of Washington have the right to refuse to fill prescriptions based on their personal beliefs. It is vitally important that we all contact the Board of Pharmacy as well as Governor Christine Gregoire immediately. If we do not speak up, those who support the right of pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions will be the only ones heard!! If you think this decision doesn't affect you, think again!! If the Board decides that it is okay for pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions based on their personal beliefs, pharmacists could deny medications to men and women based on perceived sexual orientation, HIV status, marital status or for any other reason. A pharmacist could decide not to fill a prescription for birth control because a person is not married, for instance (or even if they *think* the person is not married). The decision on what prescription drugs a person needs should be between the patient and his/her doctor. Period. There are upcoming pharmacy board meetings at these locations and times: Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: Labor & Industries, Auditorium <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">7273 Linderson Way SW</st1:street>, <st1:city st="on">Tumwater</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">WA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode st="on">98501</st1:postalcode></st1:address> <o:p> </o:p> Date: Thursday, April 20, 2006 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Location: Red Lion Hotel, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Yakima</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">607 E. Yakima Avenue</st1:street>, <st1:city st="on">Yakima</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">WA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode st="on">98901</st1:postalcode></st1:address> <st1:address st="on"><st1:postalcode st="on"></st1:postalcode></st1:address><st1:address st="on"><st1:postalcode st="on">If you can attend, please do and be sure to speak up and say why you think it is wrong for pharmacists to refuse to fill any prescription. The last few meetings have been filled by very vocal proponents of the pharmacists' right to over-ride what you and your doctor have decided is best for you.</st1:postalcode></st1:address> <st1:address st="on"><st1:postalcode st="on"></st1:postalcode></st1:address><st1:address st="on"><st1:postalcode st="on">If you can not attend, please write a letter to both the board of pharmacy and the governor. Here is their contact information:</st1:postalcode></st1:address> <st1:address st="on"><st1:postalcode st="on"></st1:postalcode></st1:address> Washington State Board of Pharmacy, <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">PO Box 47863</st1:street>, <st1:city st="on">Olympia</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">WA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode st="on">98504-7863</st1:postalcode></st1:address> or via email to <a title="mailto:WSBOP@doh.wa.gov" href="mailto:WSBOP@doh.wa.gov">WSBOP@doh.wa.gov</a>, or fax to 360-586-4359. <li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Governor <st1:personname st="on">Chris</st1:personname>tine Gregoire, Office of the Governor, P.O <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">Box</st1:street> 40002, </st1:address><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Olympia</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">WA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode st="on">98504. To e-mail the Governor go to</st1:postalcode></st1:place> <a href="http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/govemail.htm">http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/govemail.htm</a>. You can fax the Governor at Fax (360) 753-4110.<o:p> </o:p></div></li> Here is a sample letter (insert your own comments and/or information): <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Dear</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Washington</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> Pharmacy Board Members, <o:p> </o:p> I am writing to ask you to protect my right to have my prescriptions filled without delay or discrimination. <o:p> </o:p> I believe that denying any form of health care to individuals because of a personal belief is wrong and should not be tolerated. If I walked into my local pharmacy and the pharmacist refused to fill my prescription because of personal reasons, I would be outraged and would lose faith in my ability to get the health care I need, when I need it. <o:p> </o:p> It is hard enough for many people to get the health care they need. A policy allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense medication because of personal beliefs would make it even tougher. People who need medicine from pharmacists may already be feeling vulnerable, scared and have a sense of needing urgent help. Referring men and women to other pharmacies is not a satisfactory substitute to having a prescription filled immediately. These policies can result in the individual being unable to fill his/her prescription in a timely manner. It is also important to remember that in many parts of our state the nearest pharmacy may be miles away. <o:p> </o:p> A pharmacist has no right to interfere with the relationship I have with my doctor. If my doctor has given me a prescription, it is not the right of the pharmacist to second guess unless it there is a valid medical reason to do so. <o:p> </o:p> INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY OF BEING REFUSED A PRESCRIPTION HERE IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING IT WITH THE BOARD. <o:p> </o:p> I believe that pharmacists’ moral or religious beliefs may be accommodated provided that the accommodation does not cause the patient delay or untold barriers to securing services. This means that a patient should not be referred to another pharmacy to receive his/her medication. A pharmacist’s personal beliefs should not trump the health care needs of patients. <o:p> </o:p> Thank you for considering my concerns. I hope that you will do everything in your power to protect the rights I have come to expect as a citizen of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state>. Katenoreply@blogger.com