if pharmacists can refuse to fill birth control prescriptions based on their religious beliefs, can they be fired? or would this be impinging on their right to practice their faith?
does your religious belief give you the right to not do your job?
...and if so, does your employer's right to conduct his business in a fashion that serves his community take a back seat to your faith under the law?
2007-11-11 17:44:50 · 6 answers · asked by dr schmitty 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
anyone with a background in law, I would appreciate your thoughts on how a case like this might shake out
2007-11-11 17:46:42 · update #1
I can' believe that is possible.
As for the ethtics - I think that in the physician- pacient contact the first one is the seller, while the latter one is customer... Customer's wish is the highest goal, isn't it? thus as far as the wish does not conflict the LAW /not the beliefs/, the pharmacist should provide whatever the patient wants and is able to pay.
I woulnd't like to get into the hands of lets say Jehova witness surgeon. No transplantation or blood transplant during the surgery, no joke.
2007-11-11 18:02:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This issue has more to do with having the same rights as other health care professionals than anything else. Nurses and doctors can refuse to do an abortion for ethical reasons. Pharmacists just want the same right. Most pharmacists would have no problems with dispensing birth control and Plan B, but most do support the right to object for religious reasons.
2007-11-12 16:05:06 · answer #2 · answered by Lea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone can sue anyone for anything. To my knowledge only Pharmacists who work for companies who allow them to "make the call" can do so. Otherwise, they are bound to provide customers whatever they want and are willing to pay for.
In my opioion, a pharmacist has no more right to refuse a customer birth control or the morning after pill(and I am pro-life) than a waiter or waitress has the right to refuse an obviously pregnant woman a glass of wine.
People are alloud to make their own decision, as long as that decision is legal, no matter how stupid that decision is.
2007-11-12 01:56:38 · answer #3 · answered by HLBellevino 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How about a person that can't work on saturday becuase of thier religion. They want to be a police officer. They are qualified in every way. Saturday is one of the busiest nights for police.
Answer: They can not be banned from employment because of thier religion but they CAN be banned from employment because thier religion does not allow them to fulfill the requirements of the job.
Same goes for the pharmacist. If the employer allows it - its fine obviously. If the employer does not allow it they can be fired not BECAUSE of thier religion but because thier religion does not allow them to fulfill thier job requirements as the employer has set them.
2007-11-12 02:01:42 · answer #4 · answered by Bob 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He could only refuse to fill birth control prescriptions based on his/her religious beliefs if he OWNS the Pharmacy!
Report him/her to the owner.
2007-11-12 02:00:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that pharmacists are allowed to refuse emergency contraception in several pharmacies, but that depends on the pharmacy's policies. That is up to the individual employer.
2007-11-12 01:48:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋