The newly hired pharmacist Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The newly hired pharmacist - Case Study Example The Relevant Issues For decades some pharmacists have chosen to use moral convictions steeped in Judeo-Christian ethic as a right in their dispensing of medications (Wernow &Grant, 2008). Some states in the USA give legitimacy to this stand of these pharmacists. Yet only six percent of pharmacists are likely to adopt such a stand and that too from their religious beliefs (Davidson et al, 2010). Even so this right of the pharmacists runs counter to the principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, and beneficence in patient rights for the dispensing of legitimately required drugs. It is this opposing stances combined with the lack of uniform laws across the USA that has led to a controversy over the use of â€Å"conscience clause† laws by the pharmacists (Weisberg & Fraser, 2009). The Legal Position There are no current laws on whether a pharmacist should dispense emergency contraceptives, or may refuse to do so. In the absence of such laws existing state laws are applicable to whet her a pharmacist may refuse to dispense emergency contraceptives. Not all states have enacted such laws. The states of Alabama, New Hampshire, and Vermont have chosen to remain silent on the issue.