Frank Corte's HB 16 (allowing Pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions) will not only take women's rights down a slippery slope, but lead the way to a massive change in health care delivery. After all, if I (as a nurse) can decide against doing something because it is against my beliefs, then I could refuse to take care of "smelly old people" because I don't believe in taking care of the elderly, or refuse to give narcotic pain medications because I don't believe in them, the list could be endless. Do I give blood to save someone's life or walk away because of my personal beliefs? When personal feelings enter into how health care is delivered, be it medications or other forms of treatment chaos will ensue. When healthcare professionals are allowed to refuse to perform a service that is part of their job, just because of their personal beliefs, the healthcare of the citizens of this state, which is already precarious, will only get worse.
I will always remember my first nursing instructor, Ms. Ruth Sperry, at TCU, who taught us that our personal biases, etc. had absolutely no business in determining the manner in which we treated patients. All patients were equal, period.
Mr. Frank Corte, is not a health care professional, but a religious zealot, who can not see the reality behind his proposal. He is too ignorant to realize that his "agenda" allows the flood gates of "personal beliefs" to alter behaviors in many unforseen areas to the detriment of our society. His lack of respect for women is obvious. Removing women's choices is a first step away from democracy. Shall we return to the 1800's when there were no choices? Shouldn't Mr. Corte state his real goal--getting women back to the kitchen and out of the board room. Having barefoot and pregnant women slapping food in front of their husbands promptly at 5:30 pm, is that your real agenda Mr. Corte?
Women deserve choices and they deserve to have all options available for healthcare, including contraceptives. Since when is a pharmacist a physician? He/she can only surmise what a prescription is for, they can't diagnose or presume to diagnose the reason a medication was prescribed, and therefore have no business refusing to fill a prescription. I can virtually guarantee you that no pharmacist in Texas has refused to fill a prescription for Viagra. Priorities, priorities. Men first class citizens and women second class citizens in Texas. Women deserve better.
It would serve this nation well to remember what The Declaration of Geneva
(World Medical Association, 1948, 1968, 1983) states: "I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics, or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient." This is as appropriate today as it was in 1948.
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