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2006 NEWS & OLDER
8/31/2006
New Draft Policy Requires that Patients Receive their Medications
After months of debate and position-shifting, the Washington State Board of Pharmacy on August 31, 2006, adopted a policy that protects patients' access to their prescriptions. The proposed rule adopted by the Board on a 6 to 1 vote requires pharmacists to dispense all lawfully prescribed drugs and devices and clarifies that a pharmacist's personal and/or moral judgments have no place at the pharmacy counter. As adopted, the rule will also ensure that women will be able to access emergency contraception (EC) without delay or obstruction when it becomes available over the counter later this year. The decision to proceed with this rule is a reversal for the state Board, which had voted earlier this summer to adopt a policy that would have allowed pharmacists to deny filling prescriptions for personal reasons.
At the board meeting on the 31st, the Governor's office presented language, negotiated and agreed upon by the Law Center and its allies, representatives of the Washington State Pharmacy Association and the Department of Health, and urged the Board to adopt the agreed upon language without amendment. After discussion the Board voted to adopt the negotiated proposal with one change - they opted to place the dispensing duty on the individual pharmacist rather than on the pharmacy.
Although this is not the final step in the process, we are heartened to see that the Board Members finally responded to the outcry from the public, advocacy organizations and the Governor. The rule now continues through the administrative process, including public comment. We hope it will be adopted by the end of the year. Changes to the rule are still possible, so we'll remain vigilant to ensure that patient rights are protected and that all of us have access to the lawful medications we need.
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If you've been refused at the pharmacy counter, we'd like to hear about it. Please contact us at nwwlc@nwwlc.org. |
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Oregon: Oregon Pharmacy Board Adopts Policy that Requires Pharmacists, Regardless of Moral Objections, to Make Sure Patients Get Their Prescription Medications |
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read our Press Release |
The Washington State Supreme Court rules against Marriage Equality for same-sex couples
After a two-and-a-half year struggle in the courts to achieve marriage equality, we are saddened by the Court's plurality decision. We will continue to analyze the opinions and reactions to them by our community and those who oppose our vision of equality and fairness, so please check back with us frequently. And you can be sure we will continue to fight for full equality in marriage and in all aspects of family life. That is our vision, our mission and our commitment.
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Read Our Clients' Statements |
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Read King County Decision |
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Read our briefs |