BOISE - If a person has a prescription they usually take it to a pharmacist and get it filled.

But a bill moving through the statehouse right now could change that process - giving pharmacists the right to consciously object to providing a patient necessary medication.

Boise pharmacist Allen Frisk says getting a prescription filled is a pretty simple process now but he worries that could change.

"This is kind of a first of a kind regarding ethical issues and prescribing, dispensing medication," he said.

Frisk says pharmacists have always had the right to refuse service if they think a prescription is fake, or hasn't been prescribed correctly but a House Bill 216 would allow pharmacists to refuse service based on moral, ethical, and religious beliefs.

"You do need to draw a line and it would be neat if we could draw it just at this point," said Frisk.

Frisk says a number of other pharmacists agree lawmakers should leave well enough alone but the sponsor of the bill doesn't agree.

"If you are telling doctors and hospitals that they can refuse to provide services that are in conflict with their conscious that you would extend to other health care providers as well," said Representative Tom Loertscher.

Loertscher says if a pharmacist doesn't want to fill a prescription patients will have options.

"There is wide availability of pharmacies that you can get a prescription filled," he said.

But say a person lives in Malad City, where there's only one pharmacy and that pharmacist decides filling someones prescription is against their moral beliefs. That customer may have to drive nearly 50 miles to find another pharmacy.

"It comes down to pretty much a waste of time, it really does," said Frisk.

Frisk says pharmacy leaders are working on ways to voice their opposition to the bill. It now heads to the senate where Representative Loertscher believes there is support to get it passed.

_____

What do you think about the bill? Sign up to comment below and let us know what you think.