Ralph Baergen, Christopher Owens
Extract
pharmacists are autonomous, moral agents who are accountable for their choices and entitled—within limits— to decide in which activities they will participate. Pharmacists’ professionalism is defended, their responsibilities in the provision of drug therapy are set forth in the context of pharmaceutical care, and these lead to the conclusion that pharmacists’ refusals may be ethically justified. There are important limits on how are being asked to participate in actions they find morally objectionable. Notably, they must ensure that these prescriptions are filled by someone else in a timely manner and must refrain from any abusive or demeaning treatment of patients, as summed up in our Principle of Conscientious Refusal to Dispense.
Baergen R, Owens C. Revisiting Pharmacists’ Refusals to Dispense Emergency Contraception. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2006;108(5):1277-1282.