Woman denied pill on moral grounds

September 21, 2005

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DENIED: The Levonelle pill.

A PHARMACIST refused to sell a woman the morning after pill because it was morally wrong.

The woman went to Asda in Pilsworth, Bury, to buy the pill over the counter but was told that even though the product was in stock she would have to go to another shop or a GP drop-in centre to get it.

When she asked why, the woman was initially told it was against the pharmacist's religious beliefs but was then told it was a "conscientious" objection.

Asda said it was following Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidelines where a pharmacist could refuse to sell the pill on moral grounds.

Beliefs

The customer, from Elton, near Bury, who did not wish to be named, said: "I knew they sold it at that Asda store because I had once driven a friend there who needed to get it.

"The woman who served me said she would have to check with the pharmacist. When she came back she just started telling me other places where I could go to get it.

"I asked why I couldn't buy it there and she said she was sorry but it wasn't available. I asked if they had it in stock and she said yes they did." A manager told her the pharmacist did not have to sell the pill, which is called Levonelle, because it was against her religious beliefs.

"He was very polite and apologetic and said she was a locum and that it's a moral objection rather than a religious one.

Fear

"My fear is that while I am almost 30 with my own car and was able to go elsewhere to get the morning after pill, a 16-year-old girl who had arrived by taxi might think all this is too much trouble and give up.

"If they are going to offer this over the counter I think they need to be consistent. The level of service shouldn't depend on the pharmacist's feelings, everyone should have equal access to this or else I think it is discriminatory."

A spokeswoman for Asda said: "We are sorry the customer felt she hadn't received the best possible service at our store. We adhere to the strictest code of ethics when it comes to matters of conscience and follow Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidelines to the letter, as we did in this instance.

Code

"As is expected in all pharmacies - not just Asda - if prescribing emergency contraception is against a pharmacist's individual moral beliefs, then they will make this clear to the customer and direct them to an alternative pharmacy that's able to prescribe.

"We are no different to any other pharmacy in the whole country which adheres to the code of practice laid down by the RPS."

An RPS spokeswoman said pharmacists were entitled to refuse to sell the morning after pill.

"Where pharmacists' religious beliefs or personal convictions prevent them from providing a service, they must not condemn or criticise the patient and they or a member of staff must advise the patient of alternative sources for the service requested.

Should pharmacists be allowed to refuse contraception on moral grounds? Have your say.

PLUS: Take part in our Poll of the Day.

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Steven, Salford (21/09/2005 at 10:01)

I have to wonder if the same pharmacist would also refuse to sell other forms of preventative contraception such as condoms. Maybe next we can have people refuse to sell certain foodstuffs because of their religious or personal beliefs. "Yes sir, we do have bacon in stock, but i won't sell it to you because i'm a vegitarian"

Katie, manchester (21/09/2005 at 10:04)

Wrong Wrong Wrong!!! So if she doesnt believe in taking pills for headaches is he/she going to refuse to sell those aswel!!
I dont like drinking and smoking but if i worked in a shop i could not say no i am not selling you those as i dont agree!! You know if you go and work in a pharmacy that gives out emergency contraception then call me stupid but people will come in for it!!!!

gorton, manchester (21/09/2005 at 10:55)

Is it not embarassing enough going to the counter to ask for the morning after pill then have some bloke come round from the counter and state his religous believes to you. He has no right what so ever to tell this lady what she can and cant buy from the store.
He needs to find another job as this on obviously doesnt suit him!

Peter, Stockport (21/09/2005 at 10:55)

A disgrace, what do they mean moral grounds?

I think this person should be looking for a new job, perhaps in a less moral place how about Basra?
Lets see how they go about refusing to sell something to a customer with a AK47!

Rach, Crumpsall (21/09/2005 at 10:58)

Whilst I don't really agree that pharmacists should be able to pick and choose whether they offer a service or not, isn't the real problem here the lack of consistency? In Asda one day you will be able to get the morning after pill, but if you are unlucky and a different pharmacist is on duty you can't. That's where Asda needs a policy so that people know where they stand.

bernie, trafford (21/09/2005 at 11:11)

My how commendable of the pharmacist to refuse to sell medication to a customer. Would his beliefs be the same ones that have brought millions of unwanted children into the developing world left to starve to death on streets or mutilated by their so called parents so they can get more money begging or like the millions of HIV positive women in India breeding more unwanted infected children destined to die. What is morally unacceptable is an unloved unwanted child.

Lorna, UK (21/09/2005 at 12:05)

The pharmacist understood the guidelines of his/her profession and chose to abide by their own moral beliefs. Commendable I think, even if I don't necessarily agree. This is not the fault of the pharmacist and it seems unbelievable that people can be critical of someone having the same freedom of choice that allows a 30 year old woman to decide she's "made a mistake" and wants the morning after pill. Wake up and smell the coffee - freedom of choice works both ways, not just your way of thinking.

Katie, manchester (21/09/2005 at 12:36)

Lorna - Uk so if you went into a shop and like Steven from Salford said and there was a vegetarian on the till and you were buying bacon and eggs for your sunday breakast and the person refused to serve you would that be ok??
You know when you go and work in these places what you have to do (Job descriprion) so you are not doing your job if you work somewhere and do not provide the services available!!

Anon, Anon (21/09/2005 at 12:39)

What's morally unacceptable are women who can't say "no" and then need the morning after pill.

Paula, Chadderton (21/09/2005 at 13:00)

The issue here is that Asda, as a company, decided that they would make the morning after pill available in this store. That being the case, they should ensure that the people they employ are in a position to comply with the company's decision.

Nicola, Greater Manchester (21/09/2005 at 13:04)

If the pharmacist finds that her morals conflict with her job then perhaps she should consider finding a new job, where her morals will not have a potentially serious impact upon the life of another person.

Jeff, Canada (21/09/2005 at 13:24)

Asda need to sack this clown!

Zoe Porter, stockport (21/09/2005 at 13:49)

This is absoutley ludicrous! I cannot belive that a pharmacist can inflict his/her own religious beliefs on their customer! As reported, the lady was able to go and get the pill elsewhere- but if it was a young girl- it could of resulted in an unwanted pregnancy or an abortion! Besides, I thought this was a free country!??!!

steve, newcastle (21/09/2005 at 13:49)

The ignorance of some of these comments is beyond belief. Lets start with the question: the morning after pill is not "contraception"- since conception has already occurred where it is efficacious. Where it does work it is by killing the unborn child. To suggest someone should have no right to object to providing such a "service" is outrageous. As to the bonehead below suggesting that death is better than being unloved and unwanted: get yourself down to the orphanage with your shotgun if you really believe that.

anon, manchester (21/09/2005 at 13:50)

how stupid are asda ? if the product is available for sale then sell it. asda should put this person on the bread counter if selling the morning after pill is against their beliefs they cannot dictate to people what they do because of this. i would definatly take this further what a joke

Katie, Manchester (21/09/2005 at 13:52)

Anon - Anon - The woman might be in a stable relationship and the condom split!!

Michelle, Manchester (21/09/2005 at 14:04)

To Anon - what do you mean 'women who cant say no'? Have you considered that this woman may have been using a condom but it had split? Perhaps the bloke she was seeing refused to wear one on the grounds that his 'religion' didnt permit it? What if the sex was not consensual? There may be more than one reason other than a woman cant say no! I also think that this pharmacist behaved disgustingly! How could he/she justify bringing an unwanted child into the world on the grounds of their moral beliefs when they didnt know the story or background of the person - not that it should matter anyway! Asda needs to wakeup! I shall seriously think about starting to shop in Tesco!

Ian, Stockport (21/09/2005 at 14:06)

I have no personal objection to the morning after pill or the women who use it, but I would fully support the pharmacist's decision not to supply it because of their moral conviction.

The media is for ever bemoaning our increasingly amoral society but is quick to criticise those who are prepared to stand by their principles.

Linda, Manchester (21/09/2005 at 14:24)

I think it is wrong for this pharmacist to inflict her beliefs on others. If this pharmacist finds selling this mediation against her beliefs then she should look for alternative employment - it's like pro-lifer taking a job at an abortion clinic and saying to a patient "oh no dear, I can't book you in because I don't agree with abortion"!

Only the lady wishing to purchase the morning-after pill knows why she needed it. Like abortion, this is a very personal decision and nobody should have the right to inflict their beliefs on others.

gorton, manchester (21/09/2005 at 14:36)

Steve Newcastle- what on earth are u going on about? "Killing an unborn baby" If u understood the morning after pill then You wouldnt be submitting comments like these!
It's stops the sperm reaching the egg u moron and if it cant do that then u cant make a baby and "kill" it can u! Get ur fact right mate!

Katie, Manchester (21/09/2005 at 14:46)

Gorton - Manchester your comments are spot on - i agree with you 100%!!!!
Just because you have sexual intercourse does not mean each time that the women gets pregnant does it???????
In some cases maybe yes but in most cases no............hence the fact why the majority of people have to try for a baby for some time!! And as the morning after pill has to be taken max 72 hours after unprotected sex or an accident happening, then no baby can have been created in this time!! I dont agree with abortion and think that contraception should always be used if you have no intention of wanting a child but in some cases the morning after pill is useful!! in cases of accident happening!!!

Anon, Anon (21/09/2005 at 14:51)

It's no use blaming those workers in quality control at the condom factory when you've had a night of passion and regretted it in the morning! How many times has that story been used. If your all so worked up about someones morals why don't you all take a degree in pharmacy then you can give out as many tablets to whoever you like.

Cyril Sneere, Evergreen Forest (21/09/2005 at 15:00)

This is terrible news!!! The victim in all this is the man!! I mean if this girl would have then got pregnant it would be the guy who ended up paying for it and getting hounded off the CSA!!!

Ian, Stockport (21/09/2005 at 15:08)

I think it's Gorton who needs to get the facts straight. From the Netdoctor link: "The PCP is believed to work principally by preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg, and by affecting the womb lining, so that a fertilised egg couldn't 'embed' itself there."

Frankie, Berkshire (21/09/2005 at 15:20)

Did you hear about the new 'morning after' pill for Men?
It changes their blood group.

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