I thought Religious don't force their views on other people?

[sherminator]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8586344.stm


I find this absolutely shocking!

No question just a bit of early morning venting!

[craft1948]

Let's cut the crap here.....I personally would not choose to do a job which may conflict with my religious beliefs.......to do otherwise would be an attempt to impose my religious beliefs on others. If you can't do the job properly find another job.

[naomi24]

TCL Mumping, again I've explained that. I think it's you who needs to raise a stronger argument, so perhaps rather than pussyfooting around, you might like to answer my question. Why should anyone concede to someone elses religious convictions?

[TCL-MUMPING]

To quote the BBC article "Pharmacists across the UK have been told they can continue to refuse to prescribe items that might clash with their personal religious beliefs." the important word being "continue" ie it is already permitted.

[naomi24]

Craft, Absolutely right!! Well said that girl!

[naomi24]

TCL Mumping, just because it's continuing or permitted doesn't make it right. I would like an answer to my question.

[mike11111]

Just to go slightly off thread for a moment, on the subject of pharmacies, has anyone else suffered from the same thing lately, whereby you go ino a Chemist's to buy some simple over-the counter product such as Paracetamol, laxatives &c, and are then subjected to the pharmacist's equivalent of the Spanish Inquisition, normally from a non-qualified counter assistant, who demands to know your symptoms, medical history, current medication &c.? I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the simplest option is to lie and say that they are not for yourself but the old lady next door who has broken her leg and can't get to the shop. Shouldn't do it, I know, but it does tend to get on the proverbials.

[naomi24]

I know what you mean, Mike, but I think they do that as some sort of damage limitation exercise. If they've asked all the questions and received all the right answers, then if something subsequently goes wrong with you due to the product they've sold you, then they aren't responsible.

[craft1948]

I use the painkiller Solpadeine and have 2 every morning, which my doctor is aware of, to help me get started each day with my arthritis. Every time I go to the local chemist she says, is this for you, and have you had them before..........she knows me for god's sake but has to ask these questions to cover herself.

[TCL-MUMPING]

"It is absolutely wrong for anyone to impose their religious views on others" The pharmacists are not imposing their beliefs, they are merely saying that a particular belief prevents them from doing something. By saying "I am not willing to do X Y or Z because..." why is that forcing a particular belief on someone? They are not telling folk that what they want is wrong or immoral and demanding that the customer concede this fact they are explaining their personal position and as I understand it, explaining other sources available for the required product.

[mike11111]

Thanks for the two previous responses. Interestingly enough, although this may be confined to my locality, the one place I am never questioned is Boot's, though I don't use them very often as over the years thay have gone from being the cheapest to the most expensive pharmacy.

Even more interesting, and perhaps relevant to the original thread, is that it is within my lifetime that Boot's started selling contraceptives. At one time they were taboo in that store, ostensibly for religious reasons.

[craft1948]

so Mike it was a case of the barber and.......something for the weekend sir....lol

[mike11111]

Exactly, craft 1948! But my point was that you could buy them in other perfectly respectable High Street pharmacies, rather the barber's or have to go up the back lane to Dirty Dick's (sorry, that's a very local reference), but not in Boot's.

[naomi24]

TCL Mumping, you've hit the nail on the head with the word 'immoral', because that's exactly the implication here. On this occasion the customer didn't get her medication because she was obliged to concede to the shop assistant's - not the shop owner's - religious convictions. Is that right?

[naomi24]

Got to go to bed. Night all.

[birdie1971]

If pharmacists can refuse to provide medication because of their own personal religious beliefs then we're on a very slippery slope indeed.

Presumably, those pharmacists who refuse to provide contraceptive medication do so because their religion says that it is not the right of any human being to decide who lives or dies – only God can make that choice.

But what is modern medicine if not direct human intervention which intends to defy the course of nature, and therefore God?

Before mankind invented/discovered such remarkable things as penicillin, antibiotics, x-rays, anti-retrovirals, etc., then people who were sick often died. When we talk about the number of deaths in third-world countries from easily curable illnesses, it is seen as a lamentable travesty that we have the means of intervention and yet do not provide it.


If the religious views of these particular pharmacists are taken to their logical conclusion, we might as well disband modern man-made medicines entirely as it is clearly interfering with God's will.

After all, who are we mere humans to decide who lives and who dies?

[TCL-MUMPING]

An "implication" hardly suggests a particular religious view was "forced" does it?

[craft1948]

night naomi xx

[naomi24]

TCL Mumping, but it was. The customer didn't get her medication.

Good post Birdie.

Again, night all.

[naomi24]

Night Craft. xx

[karenmac60]

I am vegetarian and it is against my personal beliefs to kill animals for food. On that basis, can I get a job in a butcher's shop and refuse to sell meat to anyone? No I can't and I would never attempt to get job in such a place as it goes against my beliefs - so why are these people becoming pharmacists? Are there Christian Scientist pharmacists out there who don't believe in medical intervention but are allowed to continue in their jobs? It's ridiculous!!!