Pharmacist

’s Conscience Clause Essay, Research Paper

It should come as no surprise to anyone that we have countless ethical and moral dilemmas everyday on this planet. With over six billion people, each with their own upbringing, there are bound to be conflicts between people. So many people having so many different religions; so many others doing as they feel is right, whether that be considered socially right or wrong. Conflicts might as well be expected in this world of ours. America, the great melting pot of the world, is merely a smaller model of the same situation. A great example of this is what is now known as the Pharmacist’s Conscience Clause. Many pharmacists are not happy with their work because they are forced to fill a prescribed order for a drug, whether or not they agree with its purpose. This clause, if passed in the legislature of a state, allows the pharmacist, in short, to decide according to their own morals and beliefs whether they will give a prescribed medication to a client. This is causing huge controversy already, and it has a long way to go before it will be law of the land. Although, it is hoped by many that this will become law of our land as well as all others. On one hand, is this newly created clause giving an absurd amount of power to pharmacists. Or is it enough. Do pharmacists deserve more say in a prescription that this clause will allow them. It is the aim of this paper to answer these questions. It is my belief that this Conscience Clause, with amendment, will provide a fair amount of power to pharmacists and thus will create a workable solution to the said problem. Before anything, let us show the written Pharmacist’s Conscience Clause. This clause, as revised by the 1998 American Pharmaceutical Association reads:”1.) APhA recognizes the individual pharmacist’s right to exercise conscientious refusal and supports the establishment of systems to ensure patient access to legally prescribed therapy without compromising the pharmacist’s right of conscientious refusal. 2.) APhA shall appoint a council to serve as a resource for the profession in addressing and understanding ethical issues. (Brauer, 1)” I would agree that this Pharmacist’s Conscience Clause does a good job of giving power to the Pharmacist. Also, I would agree that the idea of creating a council is a bit of genius. It is rather obvious that the future will be filled with people challenging different instances. However, I don’t feel that enough power is kept in the hands of the people with this Pharmacist’s Conscience Clause.Pharmacists are obviously very intelligent and skilled people, as they must attend college. However, the average person sees them completing tasks that a robot could finish. For as much as you or I see of them, they merely read a prescription and get the medicine. Granted, it may take an entire year of college to be able to read a doctor’s handwriting. Still, this is almost a humiliation for their profession. Why hire college graduates and pay tens of thousands of dollars per year when any person off the street could do this work. Because pharmacists must have a vast knowledge of what any given medication will do to a person. They study chemistry, physics, biology, and various other health science courses which will teach them the effects of all types of drugs. And why is this education necessary if it cannot be used. This is a question that many pharmacists are asking themselves. A part of the hopeful answer to this problem has come in the form of this conscience clause. According to the Michigan Occupational Information System (MOIS), a pharmacists’ general job tasks include verifying prescriptions; weighing, measuring and mixing drugs; determining the identity, purity and strength of medications; dispensing medications; ensuring that patients understand instructions on medications; monitoring medication therapy of patients; keeping comprehensive records of patients; sorting and preserving drugs; and finally ordering and maintaining supplies. Because of the extensive records and such that pharmacists keep, they have a good handle on each of their patients. They also, with few exceptions, know much more about the prescribed medication and how it will affect the patient. For this reason alone they feel they should have the right to counsel their patients to some extent. Some pharmacists feel that they should be allowed to outright hold a medication from a patient. According to Gallup Poll, “for the last eight years, pharmacists have been rated as the most trusted [professional] (even above clergy)(Brauer and Gargaro, 1).” The true question, however, is whether this trust can last long if a pharmacist cannot legally hold from dispensing medication if they believe it will be harmful to the patient. What boundaries does a pharmacist have with their clients. Do they have a professional, if not moral, obligation to counsel their clients. Should they go so far as to withhold medication. It is only fair to say that this conscience clause is only hoping to be a step in the right direction. Not all pharmacists support it. In fact, it is most largely supported by pro-life pharmacists. Currently, it is most often used when a pharmacist doesn’t believe in dispensing abortifacient “morning after pills” (MAP) which are intended for birth control but can be used after conception as a sort of early abortion. Because of this Pharmacist’s for Life International (PFLI) is most actively behind