“Well, we all know cloning is the devil’s work.”
Conscience in pill form
In no other market will consumers find comparable inducement
Editor, The Times:
Persons of good conscience do not give up their religious rights when they don the uniform of a public servant, neither do pharmacists give up their right to refuse to stock products in their pharmacies to which they are opposed on moral grounds [”Disappointing decision over Plan B drugs,” Times editorial, Nov. 16].
We would not presume to tell every shop owner in the United States to offer firearms and ammunition, the procurement and ownership of which are defined by a constitutional right.
Plan B is a single-purpose drug without secondary or off-label uses. It is a red herring to state or even allude that Plan B is medically the same as daily hormonal birth control.
We do not require all gynecologists to perform abortions, nor should we force pharmacists of competent professional skill and moral courage to offer the chemical equivalent.
If a doctor determines that prescribing Plan B to a patient is in the patient’s best interest, then the doctor had better start stocking up.
- Jacob Shepherd, MarysvilleSealed from your protection
If doctors dispensed their own medicines, pharmacists would be unnecessary. Perhaps laws should be changed.
Based on pharmacists’ current refusals, what if we look at medicines that might become available in the future? Stem-cell research is a big controversial area. What if a medicine is developed that comes from stem-cell research, maybe from lines that George Bush has not approved? Ripe for religious objection.
How about if some extract from discarded fetal tissue saves Parkinson’s sufferers? Fetal-tissue uses could be barriers to deeply religious pharmacists. Which fetus did it come from - an aborted one?
Then, there could be medicine developed from cloned cells (maybe there already is). Well, we all know cloning is the devil’s work.
What if I were a Christian Scientist pharmacist, and decided not to sell penicillins for bacterial infections?
The absurdities are endless. These people should be informed in school that this is not a profession that gets to redecide any medical decision it wishes to, without knowing even a small part of the parameters. Remove these people from licensed practice.
- Miryam Gordon, SeattleKeep within adults’ reach
I would like to clear up some points regarding “Judge: Druggists may withhold ‘morning-after’ pill” [page one, Nov. 9].
While the Washington State Pharmacy Association supports accommodating a pharmacist’s personal belief system whenever possible, such accommodation cannot impede the patient’s access to timely and appropriate care.
WSPA supports a pharmacist’s right to refer a patient to another pharmacy as a means to provide timely access to care. Referral is a common and accepted practice among health-care providers and is acknowledged as such by the Board of Pharmacy and the court.
But the WSPA standard of practice for referral requires more than just sending a customer down the street. Rather, the pharmacist must call an appropriate nearby pharmacy, transfer the prescription, and confirm that the proper medication will be available and ready when the patient arrives for pickup.
Pharmacists in Washington have been instrumental in enhancing patients’ access to emergency contraception. Our practice model has become a national initiative. To insinuate that we would condone denial of needed patient care is a slap in the face to thousands of pharmacy practitioners who spend their entire careers working to ensure the safe and appropriate use of medication therapy.
- Rod Shafer, R.Ph., CEO, Washington State Pharmacy Association, RentonConscientious objectors
How many kids did you pepper spray
I was appalled to see the pepper-spraying of a sit-in demonstrator in Tuesday’s anti-war protest in Olympia [see “Tension in Olympia as war protests escalate,” Local News, Nov. 15]. It was apparent the individual was not fleeing, nor was he/she putting up any kind of resistance, yet the officer sprayed the pepper-spray right in the person’s face. This was not from a distance, but straight into the person’s eyes and nose.
I understand that the police have a difficult job to do. Also, in most cases, I support local law enforcement in most of its decisions, but this is a bit extreme for “crowd” control. Also please note there was hardly a crowd to be seen. It seems you have a few “Blackwater” officers on the force.
I strongly urge you to look into the use of excessive force in this matter and have a review of the proper use of such tools and tactics for your police officers. It appears that Olympia is not such a friendly place after all.
- Benno Stamurs, Arlington, Va.Calming home
As I traveled the back roads of Eastern Washington on Veterans Day, I felt honored to be a citizen of the USA.
The tidy communities of Latah, Tekoa, Oakesdale, Garfield and Palouse proudly lined their streets with American flags and displays to honor our veterans.
When I returned home from my enjoyable weekend, I was saddened to see the pictures and stories of young people protesting in Olympia.
Every one of us has been affected by our military. Our forefathers, brothers, sisters and friends have all represented us in defense of our freedoms.
For the protesters who disagree with the direction of our country, I ask that you consider constructive ways to represent yourselves, such as registering to vote, running for political office, joining a civic organization or volunteering in your community. Throwing rocks, blocking streets, vandalizing property and screaming insults are childish, expensive and dangerous ways of expressing yourself.
- Kenyon Lyle, ElmaGluttons for guilt?
Martyr less fowl
Here are the top 10 reasons to skip the turkey this Thanksgiving:
10. You will pardon a turkey - just like President Bush will, but for the right reasons.
9. You’ll celebrate life and good fortune, rather than death and misfortune.
8. You won’t suffer nightmares about how the turkey lived and died.
7. You won’t have to call the Poultry Hotline to keep your family alive.
6. You won’t have to sweat the saturated fat and cholesterol.
5. Your vegetarian friends will adore you.
4. Your kids will tell their friends about their cool “tofurkey.”
3. You won’t fall asleep during the football game.
2. You are what you eat. Who wants to be a “butterball”?
1. Commercial turkeys are too fat to have sex. Could happen to you.
This Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for our good fortune, health and happiness with a life-affirming, cruelty-free feast of vegetables, fruits and grains.
My family’s Thanksgiving dinner menu will include a “tofurkey,” lentil roast, mashed potatoes, corn stuffing, stuffed squash, chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and carrot cake.
An Internet search of “vegetarian Thanksgiving” got us more recipes and other useful information than we could use.
- Eugene Krautt, Seattle