The Order of Pharmacists denies wanting to introduce a conscience clause on contraception in the new code of ethics. While the web ignites, its president indicates that the text only concerns the end of life.
In the last quarter of 2015, the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists (CNOP) launched a vast project to overhaul the code of ethics, the last version of which dates from 1995. A vast site that has ignited the web for several days.
At the end of these consultations and the various think tanks, a draft text of 48 articles (77 currently) emerged. Among these, there is a possible article R. 4235-18, the article of the controversy. It provides that: “Without prejudice to the right of patients to access or to continuity of care, the pharmacist may refuse to perform a pharmaceutical act likely to endanger human life. He must then inform the patient and do everything possible to ensure that the latter will be taken care of without delay by another pharmacist. If this is not the case, the pharmacist is required to perform the pharmaceutical act ”.
Government asks for clarification
Right away, women’s rights defenders and contraception activists stepped up to the plate. For them, there is no question of France going back on its achievements. And the fear was heightened. In particular because of a recent Internet consultation (late 2015-early 2016) of pharmacists where the article in question received a large proportion of yes: 85% of respondents (out of 75,000 solicited).
In reaction, Laurence Rossignol, Minister of Families, Children and Women’s Rights, asked the Order for clarification: “The simple fact of asking pharmacists on this subject reminds us that access to contraception and abortion, as full rights, is never definitively acquired. It would be reasonable for the President of the CNOP to clarify the purpose of this consultation and to reaffirm the Order’s attachment to ensuring women their autonomy and the freedom to choose their contraception ”, she wrote on Tuesday in a press release. A position supported by nearly 6,000 citizens who signed the petition posted on change.org.
Debates on the end of life according to the Order
To extinguish the fire, Isabelle Adenot, president of the Order, delivered her version of the facts a few hours later. For her, everything would start from a misunderstanding. “The debates that took place within the Order on this article never focused on contraception but on the end of life, a situation that is often very difficult to manage by pharmacists in town and in hospitals”, she recalls in a press release. Contacted by Why actor, she thinks the article is clear: “This is about death, euthanasia”. According to her, pharmacists would only ask for equal treatment with doctors, because this conscience clause already exists in many European countries (1) for pharmacists.
In response to Laurence Rossignol, she adds that “there is obviously no question in this text proposal, of the morning-after pill, of the IUD or even of a condom! The condom, moreover, unless I am mistaken, has never attacked human life but is there to protect it! She points out in passing.
And it is then that the pen of Isabelle Adenot becomes acerbic: “Pharmacists will be happy to explain to Madam Minister the mode of action of contraceptives. These undocumented comments by the Minister are appalling at this level of State responsibility and create a climate of disinformation that is very harmful for patients and the public, ”she says.
I. Adenot reaffirms its attachment to contraception
Obviously very angry, the President of the Order insisted that when a pharmacist in Gironde refuses to sell contraceptives out of religious conviction, it is the President of a Regional Council of the Order of Pharmacists who lodged a complaint, “and not Ms. Rossignol”, she underlines.
Isabelle Adenot, however, forgets to say that Marisol Touraine, in person, immediately reacted to the affair. In a tweet, the Minister of Health had said “shocked that a pharmacist still dares to refuse contraception to women. Shameful. The fight for contraception (is) still relevant ”.
A position shared by Isabelle Adenot who affirms that the Order has written numerous letters to pharmacists to remind them that the morning-after pill was necessarily free for minors. “You will find this in the letter and the journal of the Order. The institution must ensure that pharmacists respect and apply these laws and texts, ”she concludes.
To know if this conscience clause will be retained, it will be necessary to wait until September 5, the day when the CNOP will meet in national council to rule.
(1) Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom
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