Conscience vs. Care

Rob Stein's July 16 front-page article, "A Medical Crisis of Conscience," highlights many of the challenges health-care professionals face when weighing their personal beliefs against their professional obligations.

But I noticed a glaring error in the maps accompanying the story's continuation on Page A6. The map indicates that California is one of the states that require pharmacies to provide prescription medications, but it fails to highlight that California should also appear on the map of states that allow pharmacists to opt out of dispensing certain medications based on their beliefs.

California's law is a great example of striking a balance that accommodates both patients and pharmacists. As the oldest and largest organization representing pharmacists in the United States, the American Pharmacists Association opposes the blocking of patients' access to therapy by pharmacists, but it also opposes laws, regulations and commentaries that compel pharmacists to dispense every legally valid, clinically safe prescription regardless of the individual pharmacist's beliefs. Working together, pharmacists and their employers can establish viable medication solutions that serve the best interests of patients without violating the beliefs of the pharmacist.

JOHN A. GANS

Executive Vice President

and Chief Executive Officer

American Pharmacists Association

Washington

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While there is no perfect solution for all conflicts that arise out of health-care professionals' beliefs, many of the situations could be eliminated by a simple preventive measure.

Individuals should be free to exercise their consciences even as health-care providers, consistent with the obligations they undertook in entering into their professions.

However, they should not leave prospective patients with the expectation that any medical-related procedures that they may require or request will be available. They should be required to provide clear notice, before they are engaged, that they will not provide certain procedures or treatments. This should be done in a manner that permits all prospective patients to exercise the choice, before a critical situation arises, to go elsewhere for their medical needs.

JESSE ETELSON

Rockville