It might set people to wondering if they really want to get rid of all the pro-life pharmacists and other health professionals.

Here’s a story of a woman who went after her albuterol refill at a pharmacy because she was in the middle of an asthma attack, and the pharmacy was closer than where she was storing her inhaler.

She and her boyfriend were less than two bucks short to pay for the inhaler, and were refused the refill.   The woman is a bit miffed now, by how she was treated at this particular CVS pharmacy, located in New Jersey.

Pharmer was in retail practice for just shy of 14 years, and does not recall such an incident of a patient with such an immediate need  being turned away with no meds.  Rather than get in trouble with the employer,  Pharmer used to kick in her own cash when the situation warranted.  Also, there were acceptable mechanisms of price adjustment  in some pharmacies, at that time, which would have solved this woman’s problem immediately.   Any normal, independent pharmacist would have just adjusted the price to cancel the cash shortage on the spot.

One would have thought the NJ   CVS pharmacist would have given over the inhaler to avoid a scene at the pharmacy, even if concern for the patient weren’t uppermost in his mind.

While we’re on the CVS topic…….   that chain has agreed to a huge fine due to violations of  governmental controls on pseudoephedrine sales.

You see………. pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, is the starting compound used  for producing methamphetamine in home laboratories.  Significant increases in meth production in California and other states is said to be associated with the laxness at CVS pharmacies over a two year period.

This fine,  75 million,  is the largest ever levied as a result of controlled substance act violations.   CVS is also expected to forfeit another 2.6 million in profits associated with the improper pseudoephedrine sales.

Thirdly,   getting to know CVS as PFLI knows CVS:  Here is a fax of the company position on conscience rights of their  employee pharmacists.

This is an example of  hard nosed corporate policy.

It’s conceivable that a CVS pharmacist, working for a company with such rigid policies,  might be afraid to adjust a price, or otherwise  assist a patient with immediate need,  in the way that would seem natural to a pharmacist in another practice setting.