Pharmacists stripped of right to refuse drugs on religious grounds
PHARMACISTS will no longer be able to refuse to dispense contraception or certain drugs because of a moral objection.
The so- called ‘conscience clause’ that allows them to refer a patient to a colleague has now been ruled incompatible with requirements that pharmacists deliver ‘person-centred care’.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) says the new system means they will be required to ensure the treatment of their client ‘is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs’.
The change alarmed Christians and medical professionals anxious to maintain the right for pharmacists to work within their ethical and religious beliefs. It will affect those who currently decline to supply the morning-after pill on the grounds that they consider it an abortion drug.
Following a consultation, the GPC published an explanatory paper this week saying rules should in future require that pharmacists ‘ recognise their own values and beliefs but do not impose them on other people’. They should ‘take responsibility for ensuring that person- centred care is not compromised’.
The GPC added that the rule will ‘shift the balance in favour of the needs and rights of the person in their care’ and listed drugs that might be affected as those providing contraception, fertility medicines, hormonal therapies, mental health and wellbeing services, substance misuse services and sexual health services.
Christians say replacing the ‘right to refer’ with a ‘duty to dispense’ discriminates against pharmacists with minority ethical beliefs.
Dr Peter Saunders, a former surgeon who heads the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: ‘The question is whether pharmacists should be forced to dispense drugs for what they consider to be unethical practices – like emergency contraception, gender reassignment, abortion or even, should the legislation ever be passed, for assisted suicide. Or should they retain the right to
‘Sledgehammer to crack a walnut’
exercise freedom of conscience by either referring to a colleague or opting out.’
He said the GPC was ‘using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut’.
Roman Catholic bishops yesterday issued a statement adding their opposition. Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark the Right Reverend Paul Mason said: ‘Our primary concern is in relation to the nature of conscience. It seems to imply that conscientious objection, whether motivated by religious or other concerns, is an obstacle to ensuring patient-centred care.
‘It appears to suggest that having a moral conscience and patient-centred care are not compatible facets of a pharmacist’s profession. However, we contend that being a person of conscience is in fact a requirement of any health care professional.’
GPC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said: ‘We have proposed that in some cases referral might not be the right option, or enough, to ensure person-centred care is not compromised. Pharmacy professionals should consider in advance how to make sure people receive the care they need when they need it.’