Pharmacists denied choice to not dispense morning-after pill

VANCOUVER, Nov 23 (LSN.ca) - Cristina Alarcon, of Pharmacists for Life in British Columbia and her pro-life colleagues are refusing to obey an order by the BC College of Pharmacists that would force them to dispense abortifacient morning-after-pills or refer patients to a pharmacist who will dispense them. The College is reacting by threatening punishment - possible expulsion.

The Vancouver Province reports today that Alarcon estimates 100 B.C. pharmacists will not go along with a B.C. government plan to have the morning-after pill available without a prescription in pharmacies on Dec. 1. “The main reason we will refuse is that the public has a right to know the truth - the morning-after pill is not contraception; it is abortion.”

Brenda Osmond, deputy registrar of the College of Pharmacists of B.C., said the pharmacists’ code of ethics does allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense a drug, but it requires that pharmacist to find someone else who will. “And if there is no one else, the patient’s rights must be honoured and the pharmacist must provide the drug.” Osmond asked that all those refusing to bend to the College dictates be reported to the College. “A pharmacist who does not follow the code could be found in breach of the pharmacy legislation,” she said.

The BC Pharmacy association is claiming it has received no complaints over MAP. Pharmacists for Life suggest it is urgent that authorities be contacted with concerns.

Canadian Pharmaceutical Association President: Garry King)  phone 1-800-917-9489 or 613-523-7877 fax 1800-601-1904 email: impact@cdnpharm.ca   1785 Alta Vista Drive Ottawa Ont. K1G 3Y6

  ————————————————————————————————————————  B.C. Pharmacy Association 150-3751 Shell Road Richmond, B.C. V6X-2W2 tel. 604-279-2053 1800-663-2840 fax: 604-279-2065 President: Marschall Moleschi

B.C. College of Pharmacists ste 200, 1765 West 8th ave.  Vancouver, B.C. V6J-1V8 TEl. 604-733-2440 1800-663-1940 fax: 604-73-2493 email: cpbc@axionet.com   Registrar: Linda Lytle

  ————————————————————————————————————————  Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP)  Ordre des pharmaciens de l’Ontario Ms. Deana Laws, Registrar 483 Huron Street Toronto, Ontario M5R 2R4 (416) 962-4861 Fax (416) 962-1619 E-mail email@ocpharma.com

(with files from Pro-Life E-News)