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I keep seeing all this shit about pharmacists who won't carry birth control pills, emergency contraception or other drugs necessary to women's health. Normally these pharmacists rely on "deeply held beliefs" as their justification. (An aside: I can't be the only one who's noticed the only "deeply held belief" that isn't somehow protected is the one that says there's no god.)
So...to protect the pharmacists' deeply held beliefs, while at the same time protecting MY deeply held belief that these medications should be as widely available as aspirin, I propose a Pharmacists for Life law.
It will have these components:
1. Any pharmacist who cannot for any reason carry birth control pills or emergency contraception shall declare his or her business to be a Pharmacy for Life.
2. A pharmacist who carries these medications will declare his or her business to be a Full Line Pharmacy.
3. A Pharmacy for Life must bear a symbol on each customer entrance. The symbol will be the traditional "Rx" pharmacy logo overlaid on a Christian "fish" symbol. The words "Pharmacy for Life" will form a circle around the symbol. Below it there will be the following text: "PHARMACY FOR LIFE. In keeping with the moral values of the owner of this pharmacy, oral contraceptives are not sold at this location." The center of the Pharmacy for Life logo will be at eye level for a 65-inch-tall woman wearing casual shoes.
3a. A Full Line Pharmacy must bear a symbol on each customer entrance. It will be the traditional "Rx" pharmacy logo with the letters "FLP" in the counter of the R. The words "Full Life Pharmacy" will form a circle around the symbol. Below it there will be the following text: "FULL LINE PHARMACY: This pharmacy carries medications to include oral contraceptives."
4. Pharmacists operating in communities with one pharmacy may not become Pharmacists for Life unless a Full Line Pharmacy opens in their community.
5. In a community with one Full Line Pharmacy, Pharmacies for Life may not open earlier, close later or operate for more days of the week than the Full Line Pharmacy does. Further, the Full Line Pharmacy must carry a selection of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, medical supplies, sundries and other items one would traditionally find in a drugstore.
(Explanation of number 5. This will prevent the fundies from building a shed, hanging an Rx plaque on the side, putting a cash register, three lipsticks and a case of aspirin on a card table beside the door, declaring it to be the town's full line pharmacy then never opening it, just so they can say they have a FLP in town.)
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