This showed up in my inbox today:
I had a few script for 14 kadian capsules. Went to 5 pharmacists that refused to fill. Went hour drive back to pain management and paid for apt because I could not get medication filled. He called Walgreen and drew map for me. When I went in the pharmacist said we don’t have this. I told him that 15 minutes ago he did when Dr called. Oh, you are the one and filled it. The Walgreen by my home refused to call the(3) with in easy driving distance. They made me feel discrimination for a disability I didn’t ask for. Made me get someone to drive the hour for me and suffer the pain during the drive. I have not been arrested and bedfast most of time. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. Brenda
Here is the Pharmacist’s Oath:
“I promise to devote myself to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy. In fulfilling this vow:
- I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns.
- I will apply my knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for my patients.
- I will respect and protect all personal and health information entrusted to me.
- I will accept the lifelong obligation to improve my professional knowledge and competence.
- I will hold myself and my colleagues to the highest principles of our profession’s moral, ethical and legal conduct.
- I will embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care.
- I will utilize my knowledge, skills, experiences, and values to prepare the next generation of pharmacists.
I take these vows voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.”
How many of these “bullet points” of this oath does a Pharmacist have to break before they could be considered guilty of UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT ? Is four out of seven enough ?
Filed under: General Problems
Nice to see the pharmacist’s oath in print here.
Many pharmacists take their job of serving those who are ill, seriously. But there are those few who pick and chose who to serve based on self-interest. It is all too obvious which kind of pharmacist the writer encountered.
The best choice is to move on.
kadian is long acting morphine. 100 capsules will cost the pharmacy about $1200.00 for the generic more or less depending on strength. long acting morphine tablets are widely available at a fraction of the cost. this doctor needs to get a clue. if he orders this oddball product often he should have referred the patient to a nearby pharmacy that he has a relationship with to begin with. to send a patient out to fend for himself without at least making a phone call was irresponsible at best. as for the pharmacies that didn’t have it, i believe them. why don’t you?
Thank you. This was in Franklin Tennessee. I live near Smyrna Tennessee. The pharmacists at CVS refused to even order it, the pharmacist at Stonecrest hospital outpatient pharmacy refused. Tennessee has the narcotic red list that all could have used to see what I have had in the past year. I am disappointed and scared that my ability to walk could be taken away when the ability to get the medication leaves. Bad to be disabled but the discrimination against me makes it so much worse. Even the governor Halsom has added to this with his 17 point plan to make life worse for the disabled and people with painful diseases. He posted it on Tennessee.gov under news. Forget the ones that are criminals but destroy the last life of the disabled. I have tried the useless painful dangerous injections and other things for pain relief to try and avoid medication but was unsuccessful. Blessings to Pharmacist Steve for listening when 5 other pharmacists would not.
Do not do what MR B said. Tears don’t do much for me as a pharmacist. I ll ask why only 14 Kadian. Guarantee you the RPH thinks this is a hold over supply for you abusing taking more than the originial 30 day supply your dr prescribed. there is more to the story there always is. Use one pharmacy stick to them go nowhere else for anything ever. Get pain meds from one dr only. EVER. Be honest with your pharmacist. Quite frankly I had a patient tell me once, I do the best I can, but sometimes the pain is just to much to bear. There have been times I have taken more than prescribed, sometimes less. I respected his honesty and the fact he used our store, and one dr and never ran away when Id say I have to talk to the dr about xyz before I can fill. He said no problem Ill wait take your time. He always came back. He had nothing to hide. and it was refreshing.
I have had the same pain management Dr for 7 years. One doctor only. I had 14 days until my next visit and this was a new medication trial. $58 For the 14 capsules after my insurance. The Dr thought it was a appropriate amount to try and since I was going back for another injection in 2 weeks we could discuss it. The medication trial was great but the kadian caused sweating so badly I could not take it. But why did all the others not ask me or the doctor? Just to lie and say that they don’t have it and go elsewhere. My regular pharmacy refused to even order it.
Brenda,
Take that script of Kadian to the Walgreens nearest you and show the main pharmacist on duty that a chain store far away from you filled it. Say this is like dissemination making me drive to a pharmacy so far away , say I’m a suffering individual just wanting a somewhat normal life and you thought all Walgreens practiced their saying being (At The Corner of Happy & Healthy) ,and your not very happy or healthy to have driven so far out of your way to get that script filled. Tell that pharmacist it cost you more money to see your doctor for a second appointment because this pharmacy would not fill the script and see what they say. But be nice about it ,cry if you have to and are able to look sad and I bet you they fill it next time.
Their computers are all linked together. Ask why did you make me do this,
Don’t be threatening or anything just ask WHY.
Next thing you know that pharmacist will be your best friend and never give you another problem but make sure you give your script to the same pharmacist every time you go there. Write down the name of the pharmacist if they help you next time and use it if their not at work when you go to Walgreens.
This type story is all too common, pharmacist are afraid of losing their job now days because of all the media hype and the fear of filling such a script because its a opioid. But we must draw the line somewhere if your suffering in chronic pain.
All that suffer from chronic pain and I mean true pain sufferers minus malingerers and abusers must stand up and let the pharmacy know you have the know how on filing a complaint but would not do so in a threatening way. Or intentionally file a complaint out of anger. We must put a stop to this discrimination of true pain sufferers. I’ve been using the same pharmacy for over 5 years and I’m about to make a complaint because of the way the pharmacist viewed me looking down on me like I’m lesser of a person than he. They had the medication last time I gave my script to the lady at the counter and she asked the owner of the pharmacy and the main pharmacist if she should run that script thru or not. He looked me over in a most uncomfortable way, setting his mind that I looked more like a person of interest. This will not happen again after this same pharmacy filled the same script for 5 years.
Brenda I hope you never have this problem again.
Mr. B.
We never went over an oath when I was in school, 1994. I doubt it’s even well known let alone agreed upon. Maybe it should be. Elements of it are in pharmacy practice acts, so its being ignored could lead to censure, for sure.