Re: pharmacists asking for sexual history of morning-after pill users

In article <fkaip1dsffeud1jblcbho7l3fs8nkg9qkd@xxxxxxx>, LecherousLouie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> "DRRX" <johnpaulcalvillo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Just what does a pharmacist do? Don't tell me about compounding
> pharmacies nor hospital pharmacies nor what they did back in the days
> when it was "Three drops of eye of newt, a smidgen of ground bat
> wing...etc" but concentrate on the local chain branch or the
> independent pharmacy.
>
> As near as I can figure they:
>
> - count pills (not even that when it's something pre-packaged)
>
> - stare at the monitor a lot
>
> - rewrite and print the physician's instructions on a label
>
> - collect the co-pay or the full amount
>
> - make the customer wait an hour or so for the above

Although it's a bit inflammatory, I have to say that as a long-time
patient and pharmacy-user, I share this perspective of pharmacies. I assumed
that most of the people working behind the counter were simply clerks and there
was only one true pharmacist who worked behind the glass and never spoke to
customers.
In a long history of testing anti-inflammatory drugs along with
occasional prescriptions for antibiotics, pain, etc that popped up, I've never
had a pharmacist question my file. As many of you know, people with arthritis
often have to experiment a bit to find the NSAID or DMARD that works best.
I've got quite a few open prescriptions on file with the same pharmacy that I
don't take anymore. They've never checked to make sure I'm not taking them all
at the same time, similarly they've never said anything to me when I might have
two scripts that counter-act each other. Fortunately, I try to educate myself
and will look it up in the PDR if I don't get other information from the
doctor.
And I have to say that the assumptions about the clerks is also based
on recent experience at two different pharmacies, along with stories from
friends, about getting the wrong number of pills in the bottle. If they can't
even count, these people must be hired off the street and surely can't be
educated pharmacists.
Finally, there's no way I would discuss my personal sex life with
anyone in a grocery or drug store. Even if my doctor walked in, I wouldn't
talk to him there. Privacy means privacy.

- Sharon
"Gravity... is a harsh mistress!"
.