I cant believe anyone would object.

What a waste of an article. The biggest non-issue article I've ever seen. So many words to say some guy shouldn't have to sell condoms. I think the biggest mistake the author and the Chemist are making is that anyone bloody cares!

'Courageous' stand? Hahahahaha. I think the biggest fear of the chemist and the author would be if nobody notices.

It's not quite as simple as the article or some posters may want to make it out to be. The rules around it don't seem to be simple but pharmacies like many other busineses get some government protection. There are rules about proximity to other pharmacies, the number of pharmacies in relation to other shops etc. There is some coverage of this at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ED90D96B6729FF84CA256FBA0016F956/$File/finalpartc.pdf

The author and some posters have focussed on condoms and if this was just about them I'd agree but the discussion is about any form of contraception. Pharmacists as a group/industry fight to maintain the right to be the source for certain products. There are good reasons why that can be beneficial (some medications should not be on the shelves at Woolies and I suspect that the pill and the morning after pill both fit in that category) however with the restictions on other vendors comes responsibility.

It's argued that pharmacists don't stock every medication but that looks like a diversion. Contraceptive products (especially the pill) are used by a large number of people, they are not an obscure medication where the call for them is very limited. Not stocking contraceptive products is not the same as not stocking many other products where the customer has the option to switch to another product which achieves similar results.

It's not just a case of pharmacist conscience, because of the nature of pharmacies and medication it's about a denial of access to products which are important to a lot of people. For those of us living in cities it's unlikely that such restrictions would have practical impacts, but it's not to difficult to envisage the situation in smaller communities where this could create a genuine lack of access for people to reliable contraception.

R0bert

So we're really really worried about the chance of a one pharmacist town, where the pharmacist is a strict god botherer, and where one or more of the inhabitants don't have any access to transport and could not possibly go to another town, or get someone they know to go to another town or find a doctor who would give them a years script so they need only do it once a year.

I'm weeping for the plight of all these theoretical people.

Well balanced article.

Trevor Dal Broi's actions are repugnant. I feel sympathy for any person so viciously oppressed/bullied by allusions to demonstrably false obligations. One can only hope his pain and confusion is met with a wake up call - such as gay children or a pregnant teen.

Better still, does he sell syringes as is his choice under Harm Minimisation? Apparently the bible has verses warning against illicit drug use - so wonderful is hindsight mixed with fear.

A bisexual, pregnant, IV drug addicted teenage daughter is the description of tens of thousands of Aussies. I can only hope this is this chaps lot.

Will he apply this formula?: He Abraham, his children Isaac? Kill your children as a test? Faced with reality, his formula is pathological.

Sounds offensive, yes? Welcome to the world of non theism.

Christianity argues the binary opposite of the above, complete with threats to torture one for eternity. It is this threat - not conscience - that sees this poor misguided man, acting in a morally crippled manner.

I would put it to any compassionate human that the schism between the 'kind Christian' and 'warrior Christian' continues to grow. The church is forever disassociated with "sanctuary", more properly noted as "prison".

Yet, it is the useless and dangerous rubbish that this man sells at mark-up that exposes his greed. His diet scam has been labelled by Choice and independent nutritionists as "disgraceful and irresponsible". It is in breach of childhood guidelines; and this man claims moral superiority?!

He will continue to sell vitamin and herbal preparations that not only do not work, but interact with actual medication.

Panadeine and St. Johns wort. The latter speeds up the hepatic oxidation of opioid analgesics. Purchase both; result is poor efficacy re pain relief which cannot be alleviated by any herb. Or tricking ill patients who fill antibiotic scripts to also "boost your immune system" with the "pharmacist brand" herbs/vitamins. Substrates can in no way "boost" immunity.

These lies are played out in stores across the nation. Dal Broi is a dangerous/arrogant fool.

http://atheistage.org/?p=1977