From Mrs J. D. Payne, MRPharmS
SIR,—I am grateful to Mr Honigman for keeping the emergency contraception
correspondence alive (PJ, September 2, p332).
His challenge to women pharmacists prompted me to check my first letter on the
subject published in 1994.
At that time, and in the years since, there have been many, many letters from
both men and women on this important issue. Arising from this and the hundreds
of letters sent to me privately, a Christian action group was formed which eventually
became part of Christians in Pharmacy.
Thanks to the policy of the editor of this journal, the subject has had a very
full airing, but this has sadly carried no weight with the Council of the Society.
I, and others, have continued our protest elsewhere (eg, with members of Parliament).
Mr Shooter makes some timely observations in his letter in the same issue, reminding
us of the need to assess our professional values. In addition to these ethical
considerations the practical problems are enormous — how many 10-minute
consultations can a busy community pharmacist fit into a nine-hour day? Who
will get priority — the mother and sick baby or the fee-generating EHC
customer? How long before demand exceeds possibility? How long before the 10-minute
interview becomes a nod from the dispensary? How long before a reporter catches
us doing just that? How long before the media give us the treatment already
suffered by the medical profession?
The Manchester experiment has proved that the target group will be missed. The
Pregnancy Advisory Council regards it as no different from selling paracetamol.
It is obviously going to be the method of choice for those anticipating casual
sex, and the only gain (probably short term because the Government will stop
paying for it) will be in the cash register.
J. Payne
Beaconsfield,
Buckinghamshire