Washington State Board of Pharmacy
P.O. Box 47863
Olympia, WA 98504
hpqa.csc (at) doh.wa.gov
P.O. Box 47863
Olympia, WA 98504
hpqa.csc (at) doh.wa.gov
Dear Ms. Rosemarie Duffy:
Current federal and state law respects the right of individual pharmacists to abstain from dispensing a drug to which they conscientiously object (1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; RCW 9.02.150; RCW 48.43.065; RCW 70.47.160). This legal recognition of the civil rights of pharmacists in no way trumps the rights of patients. Patients do have a right to receive pharmacy services, but they do not have a right to force a particular individual pharmacist to provide them. The State of Washington must not impose such a law. PLEASE DO NOT FORCE PHARMACISTS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR CONSCIENCE AND VIOLATING THE CIVIL LAW.
I URGE YOU TO UPHOLD THE UNITED STATES AND WASHINGTON STATE LAWS THAT PROTECT THE RIGHT OF PHARMACISTS TO LIVE AND ACT ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSCIENCE WITH THE DRAFT PROPOSAL YOU COMPOSED ON JUNE 1st, 2006: WAC 246-863-095 Pharmacist's Professional Responsibilities.
Thank you for your willingness to consider my concerns.
Respectfully yours,
"your name"
