To recognize the right of pharmacists, as health care providers, and other pharmacy employees to decline to participate in therapies they consider to be morally, religiously, or ethically troubling; further,
To support the proactive establishment of timely and convenient systems by pharmacists and their employers that protect the patient’s right to obtain legally prescribed and medically indicated treatments while reasonably accommodating in a nonpunitive manner the right of conscience; further,
It is critical that pharmacists proactively inform their employer of known situations that will cause them to exercise their right of conscience so that alternative plans may be established.
Examples where pharmacists may be challenged by their conscience include, but are not limited to, medications for assisted suicide, abortion, emergency contraception, or capital punishment.
To support the principle that a pharmacist exercising the right of conscience must be respectful of, and serve the legitimate health care needs and desires of, the patient, and shall provide a referral without any actions to persuade, coerce, or otherwise impose on the patient the pharmacist’s values, beliefs, or objections.
Italicized portion adopted from ASHP Position Statement 0610 0610 PHARMACIST'S RIGHT OF CONSCIENCE AND PATIENT'S RIGHT OF ACCESS TO THERAPY
Revised 6/2019, 10/21