From Ms J. M. Durrant, MRPharmS
SIR,—How refreshing to see some common sense on the issues surrounding the availability of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) over the counter (letter from Mrs Smith, PJ, October 30, p708).
I was one of the pharmacists who filled in the University of Sunderland questionnaire a year ago. My views were based on personal experience as a counsellor trained in crisis pregnancy, abortion and post-abortion counselling. The whole arena of unwanted pregnancy is daunting enough in the privacy of the counselling room, let alone the very public nature of a community pharmacy.
My present busy dispensing practice with total lack of privacy means that I am quite unable to counsel girls adequately when handing out EHC on a prescription. More often than not, a telephone call from the patient is the only way in which we can discuss any concerns or problems arising from the supply.
Do we pharmacists genuinely believe we are performing an essential service by supplying EHC over the counter? When I think of the amount of consideration given to the supply of cough, cold and analgesic remedies, etc, I find it difficult to include EHC. Are we ever going to be able to obtain enough honest and accurate information from the potential EHC patient to be in a position to permit a sale? Will we worry about the consequences that might arise? Or will EHC simply become another source of income for the community pharmacist?
I urge my colleagues to seriously reconsider. The scenario of the "Monday morning" contraceptive is a totally realistic one that already exists in some areas and it would be difficult to exercise restriction on purchases. Besides, what kind of messages are we giving our young people? As the mother of teenagers, this is of real concern to me.
Every kind of freedom has its price. Every kind of freedom brings responsibility. Sexual freedom carries even greater responsibilities in its wake as so many lives are involved. And, when EHC fails, as indeed it does on occasion for a variety of reasons, who then will be there to pick up the pieces? Will there be even more unwanted babies leading to an increase in the number of abortions? Or more mothers struggling on their own to raise their children? Is this really the way forward into the new millennium?
Jackie Durrant
West Byfleet, Surrey