Patient 'flabbergasted' after pharmacist refuses to sell her morning-after pill

A Quebec pharmacist who refused to sell a woman the morning-after pill because doing so would go against his values has come under fire from a women’s rights group and could face a complaint with the province’s regulatory college. But the company that owns the pharmacy where the incident took place defended the action of the pharmacist, who had acknowledged it was not the first time he had refused to provide the service, according to a CBC News report. "The Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows a professional to refuse to perform an act that would go against his or her values,” the Jean Coutu Group said in a statement, which also underlined the company’s support of the right of women to have access to the professional services they want. The patient, a 24-year-old woman who asked to remain anonymous, said the pharmacist told her prescribing the emergency oral contraception “was not in his values” and told her she could go to another store or wait until another pharmacist arrives. Read: An honest mistake with distressing consequences: Pharmacist gives contraceptive to patient trying to have a baby Even after she explained that she needed the pill that day—given that it should be taken 12 to 24 hours after intercourse—the pharmacist said “he wouldn’t do anything for me,” according to the patient. She was able to get the pill at another pharmacy but felt distressed by what happened. "I was a bit flabbergasted, I didn't know what to say,” she said. "I felt bad, I felt really judged.” According to the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec, pharmacists who refuse to provide a service that goes against their values must refer the patient to another pharmacist who can provide the service. Read: Launch national pharmacare with free birth control, NDP pitches But when a pharmacy is in a remote area and the patient cannot be referred elsewhere, the pharmacist is legally obligated to ensure the patient gets the necessary medication. "One thing is certain, in such a situation, the patient must not feel judged and must be taken care of by the professional, even if they do not personally provide the service,” the regulator added. Gisèle Dallaire, co-ordinator for the Table de concertation des groupes de femmes au Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean—a women’s rights group in Saguenay, Que.—said the pharmacy needs to do more to alert women to the pharmacist’s stance on the morning-after pill so they don’t face the same situation. Read: U.S. pharmacies limit purchase amounts of emergency contraceptives "We want to make sure that we're not regressing on these issues, that's very important," said Dallaire. "I was very sad for [this woman] . . . that she needed to take another action and to go to another pharmacist [and] maybe receive another refusal." The patient has reported the incident to Jean Coutu’s customer service department and said she is considering filing a complaint with the provincial regulator. "I don't think it's the pharmacist's place to make us feel that way," she said. "It's my decision to make, it's not his. It's my body.” Read: Key questions would-be pharmacists should ask

Patient 'flabbergasted' after pharmacist refuses to sell her morning-after pill

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