Regulator’s proposal to remove pharmacists’ conscience rights is unethical, unnecessary and quite possibly illegal
by Peter Saunders, CMC:
Should pharmacists be forced to dispense drugs for what they consider to be unethical practices – like emergency contraception, gender reassignment, abortion and assisted suicide?
Or should they have the right to exercise freedom of conscience by either referring to a colleague or opting out?
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the independent British regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises, is proposing to replace the current ‘right to refer’ with a ‘duty to dispense’.
The Council calls this ‘person-centred’ care but frames it in terms of a universal right for clients to ‘access’ drugs and devices. Pharmacists would thereby be coerced to comply or risk disciplinary procedures and/or possible loss of employment. Potential trainees could be dissuaded from pursuing a career in pharmacy altogether.
The consultation on the proposal is open for 12 weeks until 7 March 2017 (background here; full consultation document here – the response form is on pages 23-30 and is summarised on p31).
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