One of the most prominent pharmacy agencies in California celebrated its anniversary status Sunday as the only pro-life pharmacy in the state of California.
Brent Watson, pharmacy director and owner of Central Coast Pharmacy Specialists in Templeton, Calif., said that his pharmacy had made the decision – in open defiance to Big Drug and Insurance Companies – to stop issuing birth control pills, the so called “morning after pill,” and other medication that could be used for an abortion.
"It's not good medicine,” Watson said in a statement.
Watson explained that contraceptives are harmful to patients and “block the implantation of early human life.”
"[T]his puts pharmacists in direct conflict with their profession when forced to dispense against their conscience and professional promise to ‘do no harm’ to patients. We want patients to know we are a pro-patient, healing only pharmacy that provides compounded medications individually made to fit the specific needs of each patient one prescription at a time,” he said.
According to Watson, the harmful effects of contraceptives are noted even by the FDA, which requires patients to sign a disclosure before taking oral contraceptives.
Watson said that he was proud that his pharmacy could be among the few openly pro-life pharmacies in the nation while many other pharmacists continue to face persecution by employers because of their pro-life views.
In one such case, Neil Noesen of Wis., a devout Roman Catholic, was punished with over $20,000 in court fines and restrictions on his license for refusing to hand a patient prescription that could be used for an abortion in 2002.
Sunday marked Central Coast Pharmacy Specialists’ first year of “conflict free pharmacy.” The pharmacy is nationally accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) and formally recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as adhering to "quality and practice standards."
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i guess we will agree to disagree on this one. the thing to keep in mind is the debate on when human life actually begins. can plan b be prescribed when we are not even sure conception took place? if all it does is prevent fertilization of the egg how can it be murder? and if plan b is taken after conception, odds of killing off the fertilized egg are nill. if we continue to roll back what we consider "a life" then we are on a slippery slope. first it was a fetus beating heart, then it was conception... now it's an egg? if a man has a vasectomy, can we call him a murderer for no longer being able to produce sperm? is that when we consider Life?
Pharmtech: Doctors oath? Why don't they refer patients to Chiropractors, Accupunture, Magnetic Therapy, etc? Their education, their professors, and the FDA is an education time warp! Pro-Life Pharmacist should be legally able to then refer to Crisis Pregnancy, clergy, etc. Why should her "welfare" be a body toxin that murders human life? Have him tell her his blood isn't getting involved, she can get her own phone book yellow pages!
i think you all are missing my point.
just like Doctors, pharmacist have to take an oath to help individuals achieve optimum benefit from their medications, and to always be committed to their welfare. sometimes, regardless of the pharmacists morals.. this means oral contraceptives (like I said, is used for OTHER clinical outcomes besides just birth control) or emergency contraception.
so it is part of their oath to assist the patient in finding a pharmacy that will fill it. Otherwise, they are against their oath as a pharmacist in hindering the patients optimum use of the medication. (in the case of E.C., it must be taken within 72 hours of the event in oder to be effective.).
you can be Christian and be a pharmacist. but you still have that code. if the pharmacists can't abide by it, he should pick a new career
To Pharmtech: {QUOTE pharmtech
Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:49 am : 0 : 0Flag
I'm ok with a pharmacist's right to object on grounds of conscious. but he then has a duty to assist the patient in finding a pharmacy/pharmacist that WILL fill the prescription.
refusing any assistance to the patient to get their LEGALLY prescribe FDA approved medicine from a licensed physician is wrong and goes against everything a good pharmacist stands for, all morals and religious beliefs aside. QUOTE}
What would you like the pharmacist to do to assist someone? Call 411; give her a map and directions; call in the order for abortion drug; pay cab fare; set appointment; give her a phone book; get her the website address; pay her for her time? What? Diaper duty is for babies, not someone wanting to kill a baby.
"where I used to live, there was only 1 pharmacy in a 1 hour driving radius. THAT could jeopardize someones health. "
Honey, if something you MUST have to live isn't available where you choose to live - it sounds like you 'should' choose the live elsewhere.
My spouse has some deadly allergies - as in - if Anaphylactic Shock sets in and there isn't a hospital REAL nearby - he WILL die.
Fact of life.
Yes, living out in the country is something we'd love to be able to do. But is it worth the life and death risk that we'd be running by absenting ourselves from a nearby emergency medical facility? No.
He also REQUIRES several medications just to keep on living. Those come by mail order on a regular basis.
So please don't whine to me about folks who can't get what they need more "conveniently".
If you must have it, you'll find a way to get it and to make sure that you have continued access to it.
The sense of entitlement that is pounded into folk's heads by socialist education system any more is amazing.
.."have a right to timely access"...
hmmm - "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the right to timely access" - very catchy, but I don't think that one is in the Declaration of Independence. It's not even in the Bill of Rights.
Where does it say anywhere that if I live in the boondocks, that "someone" or "anyone" for that matter is obligated to open, in a location convenient to me, a retail outlet containing every imaginable necessity to sustain my life or lifestyle? - and if said retailer is found to not carry some item which I deem to be indispensable, they have, by their omission, violated my rights?
It would seem that too many people have a sense that they have innumerable and boundless "rights" which they assume everyone else must respect. No wonder these same folks are so shocked and indignant when reality slaps them up side the head.
In the mean time, I'm going to go picket the local Fareway for failing to carry my favorite Mrs. Richardson's Hot Fudge topping. After all, it improves my quality of life, and it's extremely inconvenient that I have to drive three extra blocks out of my way to go to another grocery store that I know DOES carry it.
(Yes, I know I could mail-order it and even get it Fed-Exed to me - but you're missing the point)
and what about the woman who was raped? she does not have the right to timely access to the necessary emergency contraception? what about the young woman who needs oral contraceptives to regulate her cycle and relieve symptoms of PMS that could be so bad that they adversely affect their health?
we are not talking about casual abortions as a means of birth control. we are talking about medicine that improves (if not saves) the lives of an already breathing human being. Pharmacists and doctors have the obligation.
And you may think there is a CVS on every corner. where I used to live, there was only 1 pharmacy in a 1 hour driving radius. THAT could jeopardize someones health.
to pharmtech:
nice thought - but very disingenuous. There are thousands of pharmacies that will dispense baby killing drugs for every one pharmacy that won't. Your argument would have folks to believe that the murderous mother-to-be is honestly "having a hard time" finding someone to fill her prescription.
On the contrary - any pharmacy that is openly calling itself 'pro-life' probably attracts attention from proponents of the radical left that purposely will ask to have such prescriptions filled, knowingl full well that they will be rebuffed, for the sole purpose of being able to make a stink about it.
Face it - abortion is WAY too easy in this country. It's a culture of death.
All the pro-abortion folks yammer on about preventing 'back alley' procedures - but you never hear about the millions of women whose lives are left scarred by the thought of the children they've so casually murdered, and who later wish they could undo the past.
dear pharmtech,
We should remember that "legal" does not equate to moral. Christians are bound by conscience to be moral whenever "legal" conflicts with moral. On judgement day it will not go well for those who don't make this distinction and the next life is the one that really matters. This life is preparation for the next and determines you eternal destiny so choose wisely.
I'm ok with a pharmacist's right to object on grounds of conscious. but he then has a duty to assist the patient in finding a pharmacy/pharmacist that WILL fill the prescription.
refusing any assistance to the patient to get their LEGALLY prescribe FDA approved medicine from a licensed physician is wrong and goes against everything a good pharmacist stands for, all morals and religious beliefs aside.
Blessings to you Brent Watson.
WOW! I don't know what to say. Someone that ACTUALLY has the guts to swim against the current and live for Truth. I think this guy deserves an award. I think Focus on the Family needs to start handing out awards to businesses like this who exemplify Christian character and determination in the face of opposition.
Congratulations to Brent Watson and Central Coast Pharmacy! Keep up the excellent work in advancing God's Kingdom! <><…
Where are people's comments on this important story!? I am truly grateful for Brent Watson's courageous stance. The boldness and bravery of his decision will be a blessing for many into Eternity.