{"id":2036786,"date":"2023-09-19T02:36:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T06:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/red-state-pharmacists-use-religious-loophole-to-deny-patients-ivermectin-doctor\/"},"modified":"2023-09-19T02:42:20","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T06:42:20","slug":"red-state-pharmacists-use-religious-loophole-to-deny-patients-ivermectin-doctor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/red-state-pharmacists-use-religious-loophole-to-deny-patients-ivermectin-doctor\/","title":{"rendered":"Red state pharmacists exploit &#8216;religious&#8217; loophole to refuse Ivermectin to patients: Doctor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fred-state-pharmacists-use-religious-loophole-to-deny-patients-ivermectin-doctor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2036786&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Pharmacists Using &#8220;Right to Refuse&#8221; Laws to Deny \u200cPatients Access to Ivermectin, Claims Doctor<\/h2>\n<h3>Protecting Religious\u200c Beliefs or Hindering Patient Care?<\/h3>\n<p>According to doctors, a \u200dlaw originally designed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/red-state-pharmacists-use-religious-loophole-to-deny-patients-ivermectin-doctor\/\" title=\"Red state pharmacists exploit 'religious' loophole to refuse Ivermectin to patients: Doctor\">safeguard pro-life workers&#8217; religious convictions<\/a> is now being exploited by pharmacists to withhold ivermectin from patients. These so-called &#8220;right to refuse&#8221; laws, initially intended\u2063 to protect pharmacists from violating their \u200dreligious beliefs, are now being used as legal cover to deny COVID-19\u200d treatments\u200d that they find objectionable.<\/p>\n<p>In Texas, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, founder of the Coalition of Health Freedom,\u200c expressed her concerns about the law&#8217;s impact on\u200d patient care. She explained that the law, combined with the increased discretion\u200c granted to pharmacists during the pandemic, has become a significant obstacle in providing her patients with the necessary\u2064 care, particularly when \u2063it comes to prescribing off-label ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/fda-refuses-to-change-anti-ivermectin-statements-after-court-ruling-5492215\">FDA\u2063 Refuses to Change Anti-Ivermectin \u200bStatements After Court Ruling<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/16\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/fda-refuses-to-change-anti-ivermectin-statements-after-court-ruling-5492215\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/the-case-against-ivermectin-to-prevent-and-treat-covid-19-has-been-reversed-by-the-court-5488520\">The Case Against Ivermectin to \u2063Prevent and \u200dTreat COVID-19 Has Been Reversed by the \u200dCourt<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/8\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/the-case-against-ivermectin-to-prevent-and-treat-covid-19-has-been-reversed-by-the-court-5488520\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s absurd to claim a \u2064religious or moral belief as a reason to deny my patients access to ivermectin, but\u200b that&#8217;s exactly how they exploit the law,&#8221; said Dr. Bowden. &#8220;This nonsensical situation causes significant delays in providing patients with the necessary medications.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:315px\" class=\"aligncenter\"><figcaption>(Courtesy of Mary Talley Bowden)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In \u2064Texas, House Bill 2561,\u200d signed into law by Gov. Greg \u200cAbbott in September 2017, grants pharmacists broad discretion. This law allows pharmacy workers to refuse filling prescriptions based on moral and religious reasons, citing &#8220;freedom of speech regarding a sincerely held\u200d religious belief.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dr. Bowden revealed that in recent years, many pharmacists have taken it upon themselves to decide which medications can or cannot be prescribed. Consequently, doctors are\u2062 forced to invest more time and resources into finding ways\u2062 to get prescriptions filled, diverting attention away from patient\u2062 care.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Before COVID, this was never an issue. Now, \u200dit&#8217;s a daily struggle I\u2063 face as a doctor, and it&#8217;s emotionally draining,&#8221; lamented Dr. Bowden.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;Right to refuse&#8221; laws \u200cdiffer from state to state. While some states explicitly allow pharmacies or pharmacists to refuse prescriptions for religious or moral reasons, others permit refusal but prohibit obstructing patient access to medication. The National Women&#8217;s Law Center reports that six states fall into the former category, including Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, and South Dakota, while seven states, including Alabama, Delaware, New York, North Carolina, \u2063Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas, fall into the latter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Furthermore, most state practice codes enable pharmacists to refuse filling prescriptions\u200b if they question the validity of the medicine, suspect drug abuse, or aim to protect the patient&#8217;s\u200d health and welfare. However, during the \u2064pandemic, pharmacists have expanded their discretion, as noted by Dr. Bowden.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;We Need an Intervention&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Ivermectin, a decades-old \u2062drug,\u2064 became\u2062 a subject of controversy in \u200c2020 when medical opinions on its effectiveness for COVID-19 treatment diverged. Consequently, many pharmacists refused to fill prescriptions for the medication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In 2023, Dr. Bowden and other medical professionals brought the issue to court. \u2062On August 8, a lawyer representing the FDA confirmed that doctors were \u200dindeed authorized to prescribe\u200d ivermectin for \u2064COVID-19 treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;The FDA explicitly recognizes that doctors have the authority to prescribe ivermectin to treat COVID,&#8221; stated\u2063 Ashley Cheung Honold, a Department of\u200b Justice lawyer representing the FDA, during the U.S. Court of\u200b Appeals for the 5th Circuit hearing.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the FDA&#8217;s statements affirming doctors&#8217; \u200drights, Dr. Bowden claims that many pharmacists across the country continue to refuse filling prescriptions for ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Bowden emphasizes that individual \u200cpharmacists are \u200dnot always to\u2063 blame, as they often follow orders from corporate leadership. However, she \u200bhas also witnessed cases where pharmacists obstructed her \u2062patients&#8217; access to medication due to their personal agenda.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Bowden believes that unless new legislation guarantees patients&#8217; right to have their prescriptions fulfilled by \u2063healthcare experts, people must continue pressuring pharmacies\u2064 to leave the practice of medicine to doctors.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Consumers can fight back, but it \u2063will require time and money,&#8221; explained Dr. Bowden. &#8220;Whether it means boycotting pharmacies that refuse to fill prescriptions or advocating for new legislation to protect patient rights, there are no\u200c easy solutions. However, it&#8217;s evident that we urgently need some form \u2062of\u2064 intervention.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How\u2062 can the balance \u2064between \u200bprotecting religious beliefs and ensuring \u200bpatient care be achieved in the context of medication access and the role of \u200dpharmacists<\/h2>\n<p><span>  O ensure patient safety. However, the increasing use of\u200b &#8220;right to\u2064 refuse&#8221; laws in\u200b relation to ivermectin\u2064 raises concerns about the motivations behind these refusals.<\/p>\n<p>Ivermectin has gained attention as a \u200dpotential \u200ctreatment for \u200bCOVID-19, \u200bdespite limited scientific evidence supporting\u200c its effectiveness. The\u2064 drug, primarily used to treat parasitic infections in humans and animals, \u2062has been touted by some as a miracle \u2064cure \u2064for the virus. \u2063This has led to a surge \u200bin demand for ivermectin, resulting in shortages and pharmacists being placed in\u200b the position of deciding whether or not to fill prescriptions for the drug.<\/p>\n<p>Proponents \u200dof &#8220;right to refuse&#8221; laws argue that pharmacists\u200b should\u200d not \u200cbe compelled to dispense medication that they\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-amazon-to-starbucks-workers-caught-between-big-business-and-big-labor-need-support-from-republicans\/\" title=\"From Amazon To Starbucks, Workers Caught Between Big Business And Big Labor Need Support From Republicans\">find morally objectionable<\/a> or that they believe\u2063 may harm the\u200d patient. They\u2064 argue that giving pharmacists this discretion \u2064is essential in protecting their rights and beliefs. However, opponents argue that this discretion\u2063 is \u2062now being misused to withhold medications based\u200b on personal bias or\u200b unsupported beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Bowden emphasizes that \u2062the \u200ddecision to prescribe medication should be made \u200cby the patient&#8217;s healthcare provider, not the pharmacist. While pharmacists play a\u200d crucial role in\u2062 ensuring patient safety and\u200d preventing medication \u2062errors,\u200c they \u200bshould\u200d not have the authority \u200dto override a physician&#8217;s decision without valid medical reasons.<\/p>\n<p>This\u200b issue raises important questions about the balance \u2064between protecting religious beliefs and ensuring patient care. \u2064Should pharmacists have\u2064 the right to deny \u200daccess to\u200c medications based on their \u200bpersonal\u2063 convictions? Should there \u2062be stricter \u200dguidelines in \u200cplace to prevent the misuse of &#8220;right to refuse&#8221; laws?<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the well-being of the patient should be the top priority. When a\u200b patient is denied access to medication that their\u200d healthcare provider has deemed necessary, \u2063it can have serious consequences\u2064 for their health and well-being. It is crucial to \u200dstrike a balance between protecting the rights\u200c of pharmacists and ensuring that \u200dpatients receive \u2064the care they need.<\/p>\n<p>In light of the\u2063 controversy surrounding the use of ivermectin for \u200bCOVID-19 treatment, it is essential for healthcare professionals to\u200b rely \u2064on scientific\u200c evidence and follow approved treatment protocols. While debate\u2064 and discussion\u200b about potential\u200b treatments are important for \u2064advancing\u2062 medical knowledge, decisions should ultimately be based \u2064on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senator-blasts-biden-for-compiling-naughty-list-of-peddlers-of-misinformation-like-the-lab-leak-theory\/\" title=\"Senator Blasts Biden For Compiling \u2018Naughty List\u2019 Of Peddlers Of \u2018Misinformation\u2019 Like The Lab-Leak Theory\">sound scientific evidence<\/a> \u200band made by\u200c qualified healthcare providers.<\/p>\n<p>The exploitation of\u200d &#8220;right to refuse&#8221; laws \u2062to deny access to ivermectin is a concerning trend that warrants further \u200dexamination. Ensuring that patient care is not compromised due to personal beliefs or\u200c biases is \u2063crucial in maintaining the integrity of the \u2064healthcare system. \u200cStricter regulation and clearer guidelines surrounding the use of &#8220;right\u200d to refuse&#8221; laws may be necessary to address this\u2063 issue and protect patient rights.<\/p>\n<p>As\u2062 the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it is essential for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to engage\u200d in\u2064 thoughtful discussions about the intersection of medical care, personal beliefs, \u200dand the responsibilities of \u2064healthcare providers. Finding the right balance will ensure \u2064that patients receive the necessary care while respecting the rights\u200c and beliefs of all involved\u200d parties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Doctors argue that laws designed to protect pro-life workers from compromising their religious beliefs are now being exploited by pharmacists to obstruct patients&#8217; access to ivermectin. These &#8220;right to refuse&#8221; laws, initially intended to safeguard pharmacists&#8217; religious convictions, are now being misused as legal justification for denying patients their required medication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2342,"featured_media":2036787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2036786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2342"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2036786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2036786\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2036787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2036786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2036786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2036786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}