Doctors weigh in on morning-after pill denials


CHICAGO (Reuters) - The largest U.S. physicians group on Monday objected to some pharmacists' conscience-driven refusal to sell the morning-after pill, and suggested doctors may fill the void by dispensing medications themselves.



Any pharmacist who objects on the basis of conscience to filling any prescription must make an "immediate referral to an appropriate alternative dispensing pharmacy without interference," the resolution passed by delegates to the American Medical Association's annual convention said.

Some pharmacists have filed lawsuits objecting to requirements that they fill all prescriptions. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued such a directive earlier this year specifically about the morning-after pill, called Plan B.

The contraceptive prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, but opponents equate it to abortion.

A few pharmacists have refused to refer patients elsewhere, saying it still involves them in the process, and some have gone so far as to confiscate written prescriptions.

"How the pharmacist behaves is not our purview. Our purview is to make sure the patient has access to the medication," New Jersey physician Peter Carmel said in a briefing for reporters.

"It's called moral suasion," he said of the leverage the doctors hoped to apply. "I think the AMA feels strongly about patients having access and if (pharmacists') rules of conscience interfere with that, we would suggest to them they ought to fix that," he said.

The AMA resolution calls on the doctors' group to discuss with pharmacists' organizations ways to enforce their policies requiring their members to either dispense the medications, regardless of conscience, or refer patients elsewhere.

If that does not work, the AMA included in its resolution a statement that it may seek to gain permission for doctors to dispense medications to their own patients if there is no other pharmacist within a 30-mile radius willing to fill their prescription. Normally, only state-licensed retailers are allowed to sell drugs.