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Report of Rochester NOW's EC Survey, September 2006
Greater Rochester Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), with help from the First Unitarian
Church’s Reproductive Task Force and the Religious Coalition for
Choice, surveyed 80 non-scientifically chosen pharmacies in Monroe
County about emergency contraception (EC). Since this survey was done,
the FDA has approved the over the counter sale of Plan B, one brand of
EC, to women 18 and older.
One important fact about Plan B is that the sooner a woman takes it
after unprotected intercourse the more effective it is. The delay
caused when pharmacies do not stock Plan B or allow their pharmacists
to refuse to provide this medication decreases its effectiveness and
increases unintended pregnancies. In our sample, 75% (60) of the
pharmacies carried EC; 10 did not and 10 refused to respond. Of those
that did not stock EC, approximately half cited a lack of demand.
As for education, we found that 41% of the pharmacists surveyed had
not received any education about Plan B. One pharmacist even stated
that she tells women to do a home pregnancy test first, despite the
fact that Plan B would not harm an established pregnancy. Pharmacists
also confused Plan B with Mifepristone, also known as RU 486, which is
used to terminate an early pregnancy. NOW believes that there should
be education and training of pharmacy owners and their staff to ensure
that they have scientific, factual information about Plan B.
We also found that several chain pharmacies have policies that allow a
pharmacist to refuse to fill a legal birth control prescription.
Greater Rochester NOW believes that the decision to use EC should be
made without third party interference, such as pharmacists.
Greater Rochester NOW hopes that by educating consumers, they will
advocate for all pharmacies to stock Plan B, fill all legal
prescriptions for birth control and Plan B and to educate and train
pharmacists to ensure they have factual information. When visiting a
pharmacy, ask them if they stock Plan B and what their policy is in
regard to pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions. Let them know
that women have the right to medication and patronize those pharmacies
that respect a woman’s right to birth control.
In addition, New York State needs legislation that will require
pharmacists to fill all legal prescriptions. The fact that some
pharmacies in our survey admitted that they allow pharmacists to
refuse makes it necessary to change the law.
Legislation introduced in the US Senate is bill S 809, Access to Legal
Pharmaceuticals Act. In the New York State Senate, the bill S 7361 was
introduced that would “Require a pharmacy or pharmacist to fill valid
prescriptions”. We ask that you write your US Congressmembers as well
as your NYS Senators and Assembly members and ask them to support
these important pieces of legislation.
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