United States
Ohio Pharmacists Association
Conscience Clause
April, 1999
The Ohio Pharmacists Association adopted the
following resolution at their meeting the weekend of 17/19 April, 1999.
Resolution 1-99
Whereas, There is a need for guidance from pharmacy organizations
concerning the potential conflict between a pharmacist's duty to provide
legal and medically indicated medications and their right to refuse to
participate in something they find morally, religiously or ethically
objectionable; and
Whereas, Many therapies (e.g., abortifacients, capital punishment,
cloning, stem cell and gene therapy, physician-assisted suicide, temination
of pregnancy, and termination of life support) may be morally , religiously,
or ethically objectionable to a pharmacist: and
Whereas, The Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare
Organizations currently required accredited institutions to develop a policy
allowing for conscientious objection by all healthcare employees, some of
these policies are vague and do not address the specific concerns of
pharmacists; be it
Resolved, That the Ohio Pharmacists Association supports a
pharmacist's right to conscientious objection to morally, religiously, or
ethically troubling therapies while protecting the patient's right to obtain
legally and medically indicated treatments for them.