…or Tumwater, WA, actually…which is just south of Olympia on I-5.

1nce again, The Washington State Pharmacy Board is taking up the “conscience” clause debate (I prefer to call them refusal clauses).

It’s a debate between protecting someone’s feelings or protecting someone’s health. That should be a no-brainer, but the Pharmacy Board is considering language that would allow pharmacists to bounce customers to other pharmacies if they felt the prescription was “objectionable.”

Steven Saxe, the executive director of the pharmacy board (so not a board member), described the pending languge to me this way: “it provides for more options or opportunities for a pharmacist not to fill a prescription for reasons other than medical objections.” (The original proposal did not give pharmacists the room to turn customers away.)

So, people understand the implication of this, right? Not only does this jeopardize emergency contraception, but—if a pharmacist objects to sex w/out procreation—he or she could refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control. A self righteous pharmacist could also refuse to fill prescriptions for HIV medication.

The hearing is at 9:30am. Here’s Planned Parenthood’s volunteer contact info if you want to see what you can do: 206-328-7713

I’ve linked Planned Parenthood’s press release below.

  MEDIA ADVISORY

Board of Pharmacy to Consider Proposed Refusal Policy

Seattle, WA — The Washington State Board of Pharmacy will again take up the issue of whether or not pharmacists should be allowed to refuse to fill valid prescriptions for personal reasons.  In May the board released two proposed rules, one that protects patient access to prescriptions, and a second that does not. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington and our allies are very concerned about the impact such a policy could have on women's access to emergency contraception.  We strongly oppose any policy that would permit pharmacists to refuse to fill a prescription a legal, valid prescription based on non-medical judgments.  If a pharmacist is personally opposed to filling a prescription, the pharmacist or the pharmacy must ensure that patients can get their prescription filled at the same pharmacy without hassle or delay.

WHO: Washington State Board of Pharmacy

WHAT: Washington State Board of Pharmacy Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, June 1, 2006, 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Department of Health, Point Plaza East — Conference Room 152/153

310 Israel Road SE, Tumwater WA 98501