Pharmacists and the Social Contract (Conscientious Objection and Emergency Contraception)

Kenneth A Richman

The American Journal of Bioethics
The American Journal of Bioethics

Extract
. . .pharmacists in the news who claim that emergency contraception causes abortion are acting impermissibly by basing their conscientious objection on false claims. . . My main point here, however, is drawn from a familiar concept of political philosophy — the idea of a social contract. . . Pharmacists benefit from a monopoly on the right to dispense prescription medications. This monopoly, like those offered to public utilities, comes with responsibilities that go beyond the usual duties of professionalism. Pharmacists have a duty to conform to the system which has invested in them and in which they have a vested interest. . .Card (2007) argues that the prima facie right to conscientious objection is defeated by the facts of this particular case. Applying the argument of the Crito to the role of pharmacists in the United States leads us to conclude that this prima facie right is defeated for the pharmacist in the professional role in all cases. What remains are the right to work for change and the right to opt out of the professional role entirely.


Richman KA. Pharmacists and the Social Contract. Am J Bioethics 2007 Jun 01, 7:6,15-16,DOI: 10.1080/15265160701347247

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *