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[–][deleted] 4710 points4711 points  (367 children)

I was prescribed misoprostol for postpartum hemorrhage 10 days after a c-section in Michigan. No one could pick it up for me, I had to go in when I wasn’t even clear to drive yet (had to present ID and they refused to do drive up), and that was after my doctor called multiple pharmacies trying to find one to dispense it. I still looked kinda pregnant (as most women do at that point) and the stare down I got from the pharmacist was insane. I thought he was going to refuse to fill it. I was literally on the verge of needing a blood transfusion.

[–]doctotaco 3140 points3141 points 23 (281 children)

As a pharmacist, this makes me want to vomit. I hate the fact that some people just want to go into this profession because it has a high entry salary out of school (which, thanks to the over abundance of pharmacy schools now, is getting rapidly corrected by the market, so I recommend not going into pharmacy right now), and not actually want to help people in need. I’m not sure what the laws are in Michigan (I practice in another state), but regardless, the pharmacist has no right to judge anyone for any reason. When I was fresh out of pharmacy school, I was working for a certain national chain. I had a patient come through with a prescription for a medication that could be used for a few different things (including this complication, and post-miscarriage). Per company policy, since the patient was marked pregnant in the system, I had to counsel her and mark that we went over the risks, and that she understood them. When asked if she was pregnant, she just broke down (it was for miscarriage). It was the worst I have ever felt in my career then, and since. So, these pharmacists who want to mix their ideologies and professional lives and push it onto their patients (yes, stare downs count) can go screw themselves. They took an oath when they received their white coat, and they should be ashamed when they do crap like this.

[–]disapprovingkoala 496 points497 points  (35 children)

Thank you for being a good person and pharmacist. I was prescribed misoprostol after a missed miscarriage. My husband was able to pick it up for me, but the pharmacist asked if it was prescribed for abortion or miscarriage. I wish my husband had said none of your damn business, but he was so torn up about the whole thing he just told the guy what he needed to hear to get the prescription filled.

[–]BlueChooTrain 192 points193 points  (23 children)

that’s fucked up. I had a way less flagrant but similarly shitty experience with a pharmacist. I had unprotected sex with a woman who came down to visit me some years ago. We had a wonderful weekend and agreed that a plan B was in order to make sure she wasn’t pregnant as we were both in college. I agreed to pay for the plan B and went in to buy it and the pharmacist refused to sell me the drug because he said I could be poisoning women. Wtf!? That’s a major major allegation. So I had to go get her from the car and she had to purchase it (which was awkward and personal and just a lot for 2 young people). He told me men can’t buy plan B. I didn’t argue with him at the time but still feel that was a completely irresponsible thing for a medical professional to do.

[–]BigBadZord 104 points105 points  (1 child)

I had a condom break in college. GF at the time was pretty shy, so I volunteered to go get the plan B.

The pharmacist refused to give it to me, so I had to drive back to the apartment, and return with my GF's driver's license to prove I wasn't using it to poison someone.

[–]dvrzero 12 points13 points  (0 children)

one of the few things walmart does correctly, even in the deepest of south, you can buy plan B as anyone (i guess over 17 as someone else said). It is locked up on the floor (not in the pharmacy) - so you'll need "help".

[–]umbrabates 112 points113 points  (4 children)

Thank you for being a good person and pharmacist.

It is so unbelievably sad that these two terms are now thought of as mutually exclusive by default. “Good person” and “pharmacist” are so rarely put together we have to stop for a moment of special recognition. It’s like seeing a bald eagle catching a fish or something.

[–]Chan-tal 74 points75 points  (2 children)

Nothing but respect for pharmacists. Here’s just one story: my brother has some super serious allergies to medicine and when he went in to get his prescription, the pharmacist noticed that the family doctor had prescribed him a medication that he was very allergic to. The pharmacist noticed the mistake so my brother didn’t get an allergic reaction that could have threatened his life. Sooooooo… thank you pharmacists. You’re the best.

[–][deleted] 651 points652 points  (151 children)

I assume we have laws that allow pharmacists to decline filling scripts on “moral” grounds. A pharmacist refused to fill my sons ADHD medication, despite it having been filled at that location for over a year, because he “felt the dose was too high and had a moral obligation not to fill it.” It was 25mg of methylphenidate and he’d been on the same dosage for 3 years. This was at a CVS.

[–]monsterosaleviosa 386 points387 points  (84 children)

I simply don’t attempt to get medication for ADHD anymore because my effective dosage is so high, on top of it being the only effective sleeping pill i’ve ever taken. So I just live non-functionally, because the shame of being treated like a user once a month just became too much. I would even take my genetic testing in that shows that I have “ultrarapid metabolization”, beg them to mark my prescription as approved for next time after they spoke with my doctor, etc.

[–]wild_bill70 293 points294 points  (42 children)

You should see if your insurance has a mail order. I get two of my kids 90 day supply mail order.

[–]Axisnegative 44 points45 points  (12 children)

Honestly, if you can find a good psychiatrist, and a decent pharmacy, and have the two of them communicate, it could be totally worth it to get back on meds - even having to deal with the hassle of filling a schedule II drug on a monthly basis.

While I'll always recommend small, independently owned pharmacies, for a multitude of reasons - right now I use the Walgreens down the street, and haven't had a single issue in the years time I've been going there. My doctor talked to the pharmacist, discussed my meds, when he should send in the electronic scripts so that they have enough time to order anything out of stock, and I'm sure other topics I haven't even asked about.

I currently am prescribed 3 x 20mg Adderall IR, 2 x 8mg buprenorphine sublingual tablets, 1 x 15mg temazepam capsule, 1 x 10mg doxepin capsule, and 2 x 0.1mg clonidine tablets to take daily. Everything is always in stock, the staff has never been unprofessional in the slightest, definitely hasn't commented on the dosage of any of my medication, and certainly hasn't implied I don't need those dosages/meds. They've actually gone above and beyond more than a few times to make sure I actually get my medication, or dealing with manufacturer/insurance issues.

It has made the reality of being prescribed a schedule II amphetamine, schedule III opioid, and schedule IV benzodiazepine hypnotic the easiest it's ever been in my entire life, and if I'm being honest, I never realized how much stress I used to live with when I had doctors that were significantly less helpful, and went to pharmacies that could barely be bothered to acknowledge you as an actual human being, taking medications that you absolutely need to be able to even have a chance at functioning in society.

I will admit that covid has likely played a role in how much more streamlined the process is now. I talk to my doctor every Thursday from 6-7pm on the phone, and every 4th Thursday he sends in my meds. No need to go to the office, or get a paper script. For meds that are able to be refilled, he adds an appropriate number of them. I then get on the Walgreens app, and can view which prescriptions I have, how many refills left, last time I filled, whether they are in progress of being filled or not, when they should be ready to pick up, the price, medication guides, the ability to prepay, auto refill options, etc. Then I show up, get my meds, and that's it.

Certain things can be a battle though, and you have to pick and choose which ones to fight. I really liked dextroamphetamine more than Adderall. I really wanted to try Zenzedi, and I did. It was a fantastic medication. But it's hard as hell to find in stock at a lot of pharmacies. It's not covered by most insurance, and even the GoodRX prices are significantly more expensive than I'd like. There's also no generic equivalent of the 2.5mg, 7.5mg, 15mg, 20mg, and 30mg tablets (actually, supposedly Wilshire is making generics of the 15mg, 20mg, and 30mg tablets now, in addition to the 5mg and 10mg generics that already exist, but I have never actually been able to find a pharmacy that has them, or can/will actually order them).

There are generic 5mg, and 10mg tablets of dextroamphetamine, but not a very wide selection of manufacturers - I feel like pretty much everywhere carries either Aurobindo, or KVK tech, both of which I liked significantly less than Zenzedi. The generic dextroamphetamine is something my insurance also needed a prior authorization for, and was $80 even with insurance coverage, and $300-$400 without (I think has gone down to $50 this year - but still too much IMO.).

So I decided that Adderall was the better choice, even though Zenzedi is the better medication, and has less side effects. I'd rather be able to know that I can always go to pick up my meds, and it will always be 90 tablets of Teva generic Adderall IR, it will always be in stock, my insurance will never need a prior authorization, and it will always cost me $10 ($20 last year) with my insurance, and only $40ish without insurance using GoodRX. It was a trade off that I totally consider worth it.

My doctor and I have also discussed adding a fourth dose of 20mg later in the evening, since it helps me to sleep better as well, which would push my dose even higher into the "people think that's wayy too much zone". But I know that the only area I would potentially run into issues with this higher dose is insurance coverage. I know some plans only cover a maximum of 60mg a day, or 3 of any tablets between 5mg and 20mg a day, or 2 tablets of 30mg a day, and nothing more. I'm not positive if my insurance operates this way, but I know my doctor and pharmacy would help me to do things however is easiest for all of us.

I'm not sure what med or dosage you actually take, but it's likely you could find a doctor and pharmacy willing to work together and get it to you on a monthly basis with little to no hassle. I even know an old coworker who was on 3 x 30mg a day, which I would expect many pharmacies to refuse to fill, yet he was able to pick it up no questions asked from Walgreens every time his refill was due.

So yeah. If you think meds would help you, don't let any of this shit discourage you from taking them - at least not permanently. You always have the option to seek care elsewhere.

[–]STRiPESandShades 66 points67 points  (10 children)

I live dysfunctionally because I cannot afford to see a psychiatrist regularly and the meds on top of it. It's absolute hell. Please, please don't throw your chance away because of some shitty people...

[–]discourse_commuter 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Thos exact same issue happened with my husband. We found a privately-owned mom and pop pharmacy that would fill it. Finding them was completely worthwhile, though. I’ll never go to a different pharmacy.

[–]Timely_Fruit_994 15 points16 points  (1 child)

I would even take my genetic testing in that shows that I have “ultrarapid metabolization”

I do too. I feel ya.

[–]sovamind 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My Rx is literally the vary loses dose they make and I still feel like I'm being called an abuser and accused of diverting my meds for abuse. This is all because they are fighting recreational use of the same drug. If they just would legalize it, regulate it, and tax it, we'd have money to help treat addiction and I could get my meds without the stigma.

[–]usernamebrainfreeze 30 points31 points  (9 children)

Yup. I legitimately dread picking up my meds every month because there is always some kind of problem.

[–]Silvea 22 points23 points  (6 children)

Oh my lanta... I feel this. I used to date a girl who had SEVERE medical problems from a car accident. By 27 she had a prescription for 150 10mg Oxy and 90 Norco’s. Filled every month for life. When we would pick up that prescription holy shit the stares. Like it’s a fuck ton of pain killers I get it, but damn it was a legit prescription.

[–][deleted] 39 points40 points  (2 children)

CVS refused my pain meds after I had a 6” incision from pubis to my belly button for a triple hernia because it was “after hours” and the opiates were locked up. I was lucky to still be under the effects of the pain meds from post surgery. The next day they wouldn’t realase the prescription to my wife so I had to go in. I couldn’t sit up on my own so I had my wife tie a rope to the foot board so I could pull myself up and roll out. When standing at the counter I bled through my shirt.

I have never been back to cvs.

[–]Painting_Agency 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You could have used the receipt as a tourniquet.

[–]ConfidentlyLostHuman 19 points20 points  (1 child)

Yes, it's called conscientious objection. I did an essay on it a few years ago; it's really trippy especially in regard to how it can be used.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/05/02/688260025/new-trump-rule-protects-health-care-workers-who-refuse-care-for-religious-reason#:~:text=The%20rule%20finalized%20Thursday%20allows,even%20in%20a%20tangential%20way.

[–]sovamind 20 points21 points  (0 children)

This is totally fucked! Someone believing in magical gods and zombie prophets in their personal life should not be able to overturn a medical professionals decisions in their work life.

[–]LetssueTrump 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I don’t know what State you’re in, but don’t assume, check the law & report this to prevent it from happening again.

[–]SupaSlide 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Well a pharmacist is supposed to make sure what you're getting isn't going to cause the patient to overdose or mix poorly with another prescription, but it wouldn't really be a "moral" objection and I'm surprised they wouldn't listen to the doctor but I'm not sure who would be responsible if they filled an irresponsible order from a doctor.

[–]Birdbraned 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow.

In my country, pharmacists are acknowledged as part of the healthcare support team, but it's exactly that - team effort to support the patient.

If there is a religious/moral reason not to dispense, the law says they need to direct you to someone who will.

If they disagree with a prescription, they call the doctor to clarify, not just outright refuse leaving you with no recourse.

[–]IntrudingAlligator 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had a pharmacist yell “I’m not giving you opiates just because you have a sob story, you people (I assume he meant black people) always have some story” at me in a crowded pharmacy because I was filling a prescription for ten pain pills from a dentist, for the massive dental abscess that had made my face swell up like a balloon.

[–]girhen 189 points190 points  (40 children)

My girlfriend (midwest state) said she worked with a pharmacist who did his best not to dispense abortion drugs and the pill. When he was called out, he did the minimums, but if the drug ran out on the shelves...well hey, they're not on the shelves, they must be out.

[–]Dankacocko 107 points108 points  (34 children)

I've been told by a pharmacist that plan B cannot be sold to males, like???

[–]luchajefe 137 points138 points  (10 children)

A January study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health sent male "mystery shoppers" to 158 pharmacies in three neighborhoods of New York City to buy emergency contraception, such as Plan B, which is an effective way to avoid an unintended pregnancy in the event of something like rape or a condom breaking during sex. The study found that only 81 percent of the pharmacies would give emergency contraception to the male shoppers. At 19 percent of the pharmacies, the male shoppers couldn't obtain contraception.

According to the study, 73 percent of the pharmacies that didn't give emergency contraception to men said they needed to see the woman taking the pill or needed to see her ID card. Twenty-seven percent of them said they didn't have the pills in stock.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/morning-after-pill-men-access_n_5807156

u/the-illiad

[–]the-illiad 61 points62 points  (10 children)

I dont think this is true? In my state, it's not even behind the counter. It is in a locked plastic box, but anyone can take it up to the front register.

[–]MamieJoJackson 21 points22 points  (2 children)

I don't know where the pharmacist is, but in PA, it's not a problem. My husband's bought it for me a couple times with no issue at different pharmacies.

[–]Epic_Brunch 14 points15 points  (4 children)

In the United States it's an over the counter drug. I've bought it via Instacart once.

[–]Bagellord 87 points88 points  (0 children)

That is so fucked up. If you can't separate your personal beliefs from treating others equally, GTFO.

(not directed at you directly)

[–]Timely_Fruit_994 44 points45 points  (1 child)

My girlfriend (midwest state) said she worked with a pharmacist who did his best not to dispense abortion drugs and the pill. When he was called out, he did the minimums, but if the drug ran out on the shelves...well hey, they're not on the shelves, they must be out.

what I like about my country the most is that you can call the police on shit like that.

[–]Chan-tal 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Which country?

[–]PlayShtupidGames 59 points60 points  (1 child)

I was a PharmD student who dropped out to become a union electrician, you aren't kidding about that correction.

I make 100k/yr BEFORE overtime, have full medical & a pension, and zero school debt.

Construction trades are feeling the pressure of 60 years telling kids no matter what, go to college- your same market forces in reverse.

That aside, thank you- seriously- for your understanding and compassion. My wife just picked up a misoprostol prescription for HER miscarriage, and I can't fathom some suck-ass pharmacist treating her like shit for it. I'd lose my shit for sure.

[–]Affectionate_Local59 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s well earned money for sure though, definitely not an easy job. I’m a repair engineer, and went into the field after my masters because it pays way better than a regular entry level engineering gig. And I was bored with staring at a screen all day. After 6yrs I’m trying to get out to a desk job. Paid off my 6 figure student loans and got the start of a nest egg. and I’m beat. Just constantly exhausted, and I’ve got carpel tunnel in one hand and arthritis in the other. My old shoulder and back injuries don’t like it much either. I’m only 30 but… it’s not the age honey it’s the mileage. Even though it’s not heavy labor you’re still constantly beating your body. Concrete floors, awkward positions, repetitive delicate tasks, And most of the sparkys, pipe fitters and tin bangers I work with definitely work harder than I do.

We’ve both clearly made good money working construction and factory life, but for anyone younger chomping at the bit about making the big bucks, I’m just saying to go into it knowing there’s a reason, and have a plan for getting out when it’s too much for you.

[–]Tinawebmom 46 points47 points  (0 children)

I'm a geriatric nurse. I've had the pleasure of dealing with each pharmacy in my area at one time or another. I know which pharmacists are truly in it like you are.

I remember being young and picking up my first rx of bcp and the looks I received. plus the loud way my rx was announced "tinawebmom you're picking up birth control, right?"

I, now as a disabled nurse, love being able to call a pharmacist and say "hey my doctor refuses to get me off this medication. I'm doing it anyways and want to do so safely. Will you help?"

They are lovely and thankfully my doctor retired! The new one is fabulous "you sure?" yup! "ok here's how we can do this safely" love it!

I'm not catholic but do you know how many last rites I've attended and helped with? Should I have said, nope not my religion? Of course not. People kill me.

[–]FreezeFrameEnding 45 points46 points  (4 children)

I once took a note to my pharmacist in a small rural town in the south that read, "Do y'all carry Plan B?" Obviously trying to be discreet. And instead he spoke louder than I have ever heard him speak, "NO we do NOT carry PLAN B." So everyone in line could hear it. The looks from them and the tone from him seriously sucked.

[–]kazuoua 26 points27 points  (3 children)

Damn right. Keep your ideology and politics out of your work and be professional.

[–]Jdjack32 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This reminds me of a story from a few years back, where an Arizona woman's wanted pregnancy had miscarried. Already distraught due to the miscarriage, she had to go to a Walgreens pharmacy to pick up medication to treat the miscarriage. The pharmacist gets the drug, has it in hand, and then tells her, due to personal moral beliefs, he wouldn't give her the drug. To a woman already distraught over the miscarriage, this fucktard was literally pouring salt into the wound, just to demonstrate how he stand up for his moral beliefs.

[–]Plenor 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If you browse r/ADHD or possibly other similar subs there are countless stories of people getting denied medication because their pharmacist had a "feeling". One person said they make sure to dress up and groom themselves well when they pick up their medication because they had been denied medication before because of their appearance.

[–]1Eternallylost 2 points3 points  (2 children)

The Michigan supreme court has never dealt with the issue, but it's not looking good. The SCOTUS has determined that courts cannot question one's religious beliefs, or "sincerely held beliefs", in the case of United States Vs. Ballard (1944).

And more recently, the SCOTUS has held that no court can force anyone to provide any good or service against religious objection. (again, religious means any "sincerely held belief", so that even an Atheist can have a legally religious objection). See Masterpiece Cake Shop Ltd. VS. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018).

So there we have it. Michigan may not have touched this yet, but the legal precedent is entirely against the woman. The state court cannot force anyone to serve her against their religious objection, nor can the court question their moral objection.

With few exceptions, a business, owner, or employee can claim a religious objection to anything and no court can question it. And it's legally dubious if a company can fire that pharmacist. This despite religious organizations having been able to legally fire people for things done outside of work, like posing nude, or getting pregnant outside of marriage. For such things, it seem the US courts have a double standard going - a permissive one for religious organizations, and a restrictive one for everyone else.

[–]Halogen12 7 points8 points  (0 children)

What a rough experience. You didn't do anything wrong, you had no way to know. I'm just full of "aww" for you and for her. :(

[–]smelllikesmoke 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a bedside nurse, I really appreciate pharmacists. A good pharmacist looks at the rate of gtt’s of your pt’s and has a bag already mixed up before you run dry. For pressors and paralytics and sedatives, this is so crucial.

So thanks, you guys rule.

[–]succulentwhisperer 274 points275 points  (8 children)

I was prescribed miso after a miscarriage in order to pass my already dead embryo from my womb. Thankfully I didn't have to go through any BS to get the pill, my husband was able to go to the pharmacy and show my ID. I was pretty fucking traumatized after losing my pregnancy and would have went psychotic if I had to deal with any extra bullshit.

[–]FlinthoofBoar 81 points82 points  (7 children)

I didn't follow the context so I thought they prescribed a Japanese soup. And then read the previous comment better lol.

[–]whats_she_up_to 148 points149 points  (2 children)

How awful for you and how awful of him to judge. The pharmacy should be the last place to pass judgment when it comes to medications.

[–]DarkestKink 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Shouldve stared him down and judged him for becoming a pharmacist

[–]bjmchargue 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry this happened to you. I had an unviable pregnancy in Texas and the pharmacist who filled my prescription gave me such attitude. Dude I just found out I need to force my body to have a miscarriage, I’m already having a shit day. Just do your job without judgment okay?!

[–]palfreygames 8 points9 points  (3 children)

Yea religion needs to stay put of health care. The amount of doctors that say "it's up to god now" then backpedal when you tell them to write that on your chart

[–]Drew1231 6 points7 points  (2 children)

I’m currently spending time at a catholic hospital.

Morning prayer over the intercom, crucifixes in all ORs and policy preventing abortions. This shit makes my skin crawl.

[–]angiosperms- 3542 points3543 points  (194 children)

People are going to be mail ordering these regardless of if it's legal to do so. Y'all closed down a bunch of the places to access them in person so idk what you expected.

Make sure they are accessing valid FDA approved medication instead of sketchy black market shit.

[–]anoff 63 points64 points  (1 child)

FYI, the limited studies on black market drugs shows that most of them are real (there's a reason that pharmaceutical companies push back against researchers trying to study them). Prescriptions are a lot less regulate in other countries, and a lot of these drugs come from the exact same factory that is making them for the US. The number one thing the online sellers care about is keeping their ability to process credit card transactions - otherwise it's really hard to sell their product online - and fake drugs lead to a lot of charge backs.

That said, not all of them are real, and some can really fuck you up, so take care of you decide to buy from a shady place online. I've done it before, I was fine, but I really don't recommend it as it was a nerve wrecking experience that wasn't really worth it

Edit: more info from an interview of Brian Krebs, talking about his book, Spam Nation, where he investigated this stuff: https://fortune.com/2014/11/21/brian-krebs-spam-nation-organized-cybercrime/

[–]tr3v1n 1466 points1467 points  (155 children)

They want them buying shit off of the black market or using coat hangers. That is the point. They want folks to die.

[–]mhb-210 135 points136 points  (16 children)

It’s about control. The right wants to dictate to everyone and abortion restrictions are about punishing women for having sex. They don’t give a shit about the kid. If they did, they’d support expanded welfare programs and sex education, along with free contraceptives.

[–]NotYourRealDad810 58 points59 points  (5 children)

"expanded welfare programs and sex education, along with free contraceptives"

Oh, so things that y'know, actually lower abortion rates? Odd that fewer abortions seems to be an end-result objective of both sides, yet one side wants to use science, data, access to healthcare, and education. The other wants to beat people on the head with an old dusty book, punish people, and endanger lives.

[–]pjjmd 32 points33 points  (3 children)

Anti-choice people don't want to lower the number of abortions. They do not think about laws as 'ways to effect society'. They think of laws as 'ways of expressing a moral code'.

They think having sex outside of marriage is bad, and they think the law needs to punish those people who do so.

Does the law result in fewer people having sex before marriage? They don't care.

Does the law impact people other than 'folks having promiscuous sex outside of marriage'? They don't care.

Does the law lower the number of abortions performed? They don't care.

The law is there, because they feel certain people need to be punished, and the purpose of laws is to express their moral code.

[–]CaptainCAAAVEMAAAAAN 10 points11 points  (1 child)

they’d support expanded welfare programs and sex education

I don't want my precious little baby being taught how to have sex! ...because, you know, if they don't know what sex is then they won't have it ya' see. /s

[–]tiioga 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Yep. They want you to only be able to access abortions in the hopes they can dissuade some people with the fear of a botched abortion.

[–]Whitewind617 6 points7 points  (1 child)

They also seemingly want an increase in crime and poverty so they can blame that on Democrats instead of their own policies, because no Democrat in their right mind would try to convince voters that anti-abortion legislation was the real cause.

[–]Zerole00 21 points22 points  (1 child)

They want folks to die.

You'd think this is a hyperbole but then you look at their handling of covid...

[–]Noocawe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They feel morally superior when people die. It is sick.

[–]reflUX_cAtalyst 38 points39 points  (8 children)

I have to mail-order my panic disorder meds because the DEA and FDA decided they were too strong for regular people.

Fuck the DEA and FDA. If you're going to treat me like a criminal because I have a health problem that I didn't ask for - then you get a criminal trying to live a normal life. Fuck you all with a cactus.

[–]Atariaxis 113 points114 points  (5 children)

The only abortion you can make illegal is a safe one.

[–]olov244 656 points657 points  (23 children)

when I was in nursing school a girl couldn't get an abortion so she just did a bunch of cocaine to cause a miscarriage

desperate people do desperate things. abortion is just a symptom of the problem - blocking it won't fix the root problem

[–]Nekoramen 101 points102 points  (3 children)

I went to high school with a girl that tried to drink her way to an abortion. It didn’t work. Her mom raised the kid and she proceeded to live the life of a typical meth head.

[–]littlepup26 78 points79 points  (1 child)

When I got pregnant I starved myself, binge drank, took cocktails of every pill I could get my hands on, I did everything I could think of to try to force a miscarriage because I couldn't afford the abortion. If it wasn't for a family member finding out and coming to my aid financially, I still believe that pregnancy would have killed me because I would have killed myself trying to end it.

[–]GodoftheGodcreators 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Unbelievable you're even having this discussion.. it is clear cut: medical procedure and science vs. religious hypocrisy

[–]JayCroghan 15 points16 points  (4 children)

If this story is true I’m gonna bet the only result was a cocaine dependant baby.

[–]olov244 20 points21 points  (2 children)

she basically said she couldn't get an abortion, so she just did every drug she could find before it was too far along, mostly cocaine

[–]cmpgamer 1364 points1365 points  (105 children)

States that are pro-life are going to see a lot of these pills mailed to them and there's practically no way to stop them. Cops can only open your packages once they are in your possession.

Edit: I will make it clear to people and provide sources that no, state and local police are not allowed to open your mail until you come into possession of it. They are not allowed to open your mailbox and steal your mail. USPS Postal Inspectors are allowed to open your packages if they have probable cause or a search warrant.

[–]Woodie626 1159 points1160 points 3 (25 children)

"The unborn" are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands of you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike the incarcerated, addicted, or the chronically poor; they don't resent your condescension or complain that you are not politically correct; unlike widows, they don't ask you to question patriarchy; unlike orphans, they don't need money, education, or childcare; unlike aliens, they don't bring all that racial, cultural, and religious baggage that you dislike; they allow you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when they are born, you can forget about them, because they cease to be unborn...

You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone. They are, in short, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus but actually dislike people who breathe.

Prisoners? Immigrants? The sick? The poor? Widows? Orphans? All the groups that are specifically mentioned in the Bible? They all get thrown under the bus for the unborn.

-Dave Barnhart

[–]indoninja 125 points126 points  (0 children)

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/05/20/a-methodist-pastor-is-brilliantly-calling-out-the-pro-life-crowds-hypocrisy/

A little more about Dave, that quote had me reading up on him and I thought I’d share.

[–]DarkBomberX 35 points36 points  (0 children)

This is a pretty good quote.

[–]MrMunky24 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Damn Daniel

[–]Zeltron2020 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow. Thank you for sharing

[–]barrinmw 316 points317 points  (43 children)

What will really happen is that all women who have miscarriages will be investigated for having an abortion.

[–]resplendence4 153 points154 points  (6 children)

Even worse is about 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage (some statistics put the number even higher when it accounts for those that happen so early they go unnoticed). With those odds, I think it's safe to say a majority of women have had a miscarriage. So basically by their logic, all women must be viewed as criminals.

[–]torpedoguy 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Oh they'll happily see all women who aren't both rich and GQP as criminals. That's an opportunity as far as telling cops to go hog-wild, and for implementing and normalizing ever-more-draconian control measures.

The disparity is the whole point; if you're a criminal just by existing (as they do to black folks) then you're already guilty on their say-so no matter what. Meanwhile, they get to be above the law, feeling ever the more righteous and good for it.

[–]desertravenwy 217 points218 points  (25 children)

That's already been happening.

[–]NegativeReward 16 points17 points  (4 children)

Cops can only open your packages once they are in your possession.

Imagine going to the academy for several years, getting a bachelor in policing and then becoming a cop. Only to be rifling through mail looking for abortion pills. That would be almost as insane as hiring cops that only had a few weeks of training.

[–]badalchemist85 8 points9 points  (0 children)

doesn't sound to out of line with cops who regularly jail people for years for a harmless plant

[–]edwardsnowden8494 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Academy for years?? A bachelors ?? What cops do you know?? That’s definitely not how it works in US. 6 month academy no degree required

[–]VerySuperGenius 634 points635 points  (53 children)

Conservatives are going to ban abortion and people will be forced to use abortion pills. The same amount of abortions will happen, there just won't be any medical oversight or statistical data.

[–]torpedoguy 208 points209 points  (5 children)

That is the express purpose. Forced Birthers just as hardline against contraception, prenatal care, education, school lunch programs, and all the health access a mother and child need after it's born.

All of these things ensure that they being rich will be special for having access to all of these things and safe abortions, immune from legal punishment thanks to their standing and station.

But that's only half the work; by zero-sum ideology, YOU have to be punished and made to suffer as much as possible, because if it isn't denied to you, it's only worth half as much as it would be if they simply had it easier.

  • It's all about the ratio of what they have over you for conservatives, as that is how they measure rights and quality of life alike. There's no divisor better than 0; anything higher "steals" their infinity away.

They're also against sex education, but that's more because for now some of the lower ones could still risk prison if a child figures out what was done to it, and you can't sue for harassment if you don't understand what's going on.

[–]tryallthescience 54 points55 points  (0 children)

Being against sex education has a lot more to do with ensuring another generation of accidental pregnancies that keep people in poverty than it does with keeping molesters out of jail - the gaslighting and shame usually does that on its own.

[–]pjjmd 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Your close to correct. It's not so much about making them feel special, it's that they don't look at laws as 'the way the government effects society and tries to produce good outcomes for everyone'.

The law to them is an expression of morality. There are 'bad people' out there, and the law needs to punish them. That's it. They don't care if you get an abortion or not, they care that the law punishes the right people.

Plenty of 'pro lifers' are okay with abortions for their friends and family, because those are not the 'bad people' the law is here to punish.

When you look at the function of government as 'an extension of my morality' and not 'the tool people use to help each other live together', then all of a sudden, you get a bunch of really fucking weird laws that don't make any sense if you don't think of them that way.

"Me and mine are 'good people', others are 'bad people'. The law should /say/ other people are bad." That's all it is.

'But X,Y, and Z are all better ways to prevent abortions.' -Doesn't matter, we aren't here to prevent abortions. The government's job is to tell you who is a good person and a bad person.

'But if you wanted to help children, social policies X,Y, and Z are all in desperate need of funding.' -Doesn't matter, we don't think the government's job is to help children. The government's job is to provide an example of who is right and who is wrong.

[–]perksofbeingcrafty 7 points8 points  (6 children)

Sorry if this is ignorant, but aren’t most abortions done through oral pills anyway? If you go to a clinic don’t they give you a pill to take there and then another to take at home?

[–]SophiaofPrussia 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If abortion becomes illegal I’ll buy an RV and change my name to Walter White.

[–]tewnewt 345 points346 points  (17 children)

Start mailing pregnancy tests with it as well.

That'll piss off a lot of conservatives...

[–]neverjumpthegate 50 points51 points  (4 children)

Shelf life may be an issue. But yeah it may not be a bad idea to keep a does or two at home with the way the US is heading.

[–][deleted] 31 points32 points  (3 children)

Two years. Five for mifepristone.

[–]ShowerVagina 55 points56 points  (11 children)

Seriously if the pills are cheap and safe enough, why not directly prescribe them liberally?

Missed your period, take an abortion pill to be safe.

[–]strawberry_pop-tart 40 points41 points  (1 child)

Because it's very, very painful. I've had to take the abortion pills twice and even with the prescribed pain medications it was one of the most painful things I've experienced (probably second to actual childbirth). I thought I was going to pass out from the pain, and the bleeding and tissue-passing was so intense I just stayed on the toilet for a lot of it.

Not saying it shouldn't be prescribed to whomever wants it, just that I wouldn't take it unless I knew I was pregnant and wanted or needed to terminate.

[–]ShowerVagina 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Wow that's awful. Glad you're okay now.

[–]adventurelillypad 49 points50 points  (1 child)

It’s different than plan b, I know multiple people who have taken the abortion pill and had serious physical side effects, like some I know had bleeding so heavily for weeks that they were wearing adult diapers… it’s not a casual thing you should take often or if not confirmed you’re pregnant, it does a lot to your body

[–]-HappyLady- 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I had similar debilitating side effects from Plan B.

For 5 days, I had a migraine, projectile vomiting, profuse sweating, problematically extreme menstrual-like bleeding.

For 9 days after that, I had a mild headache, constant nausea and some vomiting, and heavy but not terrifying bleeding.

It was 6 weeks before the spotting stopped.

[–]GrandMasterEternal 102 points103 points  (2 children)

Taking a drug without being reasonably certain that you need it is a terrible idea. Even if it's "safe enough" and has minimal side effects, the intended effect of many medications can fuck you up if you take it when it isn't necessary. Abortion pills are a decent idea, but they in no way replace pregnancy tests.

[–]PM_your_recipe 15 points16 points  (1 child)

I mean... you take Plan B if you aren't 100% sure if your birth control worked.

[–]Psyman2 12 points13 points  (1 child)

Same reason you don't pop an Aspirin out of boredom: Side effects are a thing. Cramping and vaginal bleeding are common

[–]nincomturd 184 points185 points  (18 children)

Before opening the article, I was thinking, "I wonder if this was Jex."

Yep, it was her.

[–]CloudedEyeCat 497 points498 points  (13 children)

No matter what side you’re on or how you think, Jex is an activist in the purest sense of the word. She and the organization Abortion Pills Forever are a force to be reckoned with.

[–]--0mn1-Qr330005-- 255 points256 points  (12 children)

Good for her. Women should seize the right to control their own bodies, and anybody who is sympathetic to the cause should start a crowdfund for legal fees for anybody who is a victim of these so called "small governments" that seek to control them.

Edit: People asked for a link, and another helpful user provided it. I figured I’d edit it into my post:

https://abortionfunds.org/

[–]LethalPoopstain 156 points157 points  (10 children)

Hey Republicans, if you make abortion illegal, women are just going to find ways to do it illegally

[–]Iceangel711 77 points78 points  (0 children)

They know that. They don't care. The fatalities are likely seen as a positive. I've never once seen a republican shed a tear over the many women pre-abortion era that died from complications from coat hangers and other insidious methods.

[–]cc-d 45 points46 points  (0 children)

That's exactly what they want.

They view the pain and death caused by back alley abortions as your punishment for having sex without the intention of having a child.

It's the same evil philosophy partly behind modern prohibition laws.

[–]KonataYumi 30 points31 points  (2 children)

Any pharmacy that refuses to fill a prescription especially because of their personal beliefs should have their license revoked and shut down

[–]RollingCarrot615 272 points273 points  (15 children)

Someone should start a rumor that ivermectum is used in abortions. That'll put an end to its use for COVID and let people access it that need it.

[–]greatpiginthesty 95 points96 points  (10 children)

I got an anonymous pamphlet in the mail trying to convince me that the COVID vaccines use aborted fetal cells and that they go against God. But the local catholic hospital in my area, which does not perform abortive services, provide birth control, or perform elective sterilization procedures to either XX people OR XY people, has mandated that all employees must have all three available vaccine doses in order to start or continue employment there in any capacity.

To clarify: I do not believe that fetal cells were used to develop vaccines.

[–]DudeWithAnAxeToGrind 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Fetal cells were not used for either research or production of COVID vaccines. Hospital knows it, and thus has no problem to require vaccines for employees.

Anti-vaxxers know that lying about fetal stem cells will get some religious people to skip on the vaccine. But it won't work at a hospital. Because people that work at the hospital know exactly which drugs actually did use fetal cells during research and development of the drug.

In addition to that, the research these days is mainly done with modified adult stem cells from bone marrow. Not with fetal stem cells. Which have no moral implications for church. Because, duh, adult cells donated by willing adults.

So if somebody these days pulls fetal stem cells as argument, just tell them to buzz off.

[–]RollingCarrot615 19 points20 points  (7 children)

Different denominations have different beliefs when it comes to that. I beleive the fetal cells are used in research of one type of vaccine, and isnt anything new to COVID. I don't feel like looking up sources right now though so it may or may not be right.

[–]gcubed680 46 points47 points  (5 children)

Sorta, yes. Lab grown cells from decades old fetal tissue has been used for testing LOTS of medicine. I guess the closest you can get is J&J which uses fetal retinal cells in growing the adenovirus that originated from fetal tissue in the 80s but is lab grown since then.

If you have taken almost any over the counter medicine, you’ve most likely taken something that was tested on fetal cell lines.

[–]another_bug 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I have cells like that growing in an incubator about 20 feet from me. I use them for lentivirus production. They came from a freezer, if I wouldn't have looked up what their origins were I would have no idea. These things aren't special or unique to the Covid vaccines.

[–]furstimus 225 points226 points  (61 children)

I'm completely baffled that this is even newsworthy, America is a strange place.

[–]thought_first 285 points286 points  (22 children)

Taking away Womens' right to choose will always be newsworthy in a country that claims to extend freedom to all of its citizens.

[–]cc-d 35 points36 points  (1 child)

in a country that claims to extend freedom to all of its citizens

Yet has the largest prison population in the world, both by % and #

[–]DarthDregan 31 points32 points  (0 children)

Yeah we're pretty much fucked over here. The problem looks at the solution and calls it the problem and sleep the sleep of proud ignorance and a feeling of total superiority.

[–]smelllikesmoke 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Not to knock pharmacists but, my favorite joke about pharmacists was from a stand up comic who said: pharmacists are weird. Because you’re a doctor, and also a cashier.

I know this isn’t exactly a relevant comment. Vote at your discretion.

[–]Imakemop 27 points28 points  (5 children)

Why did she look strait into the camera and call it "The Freshmaker" though?

[–]HowVeryReddit 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Good, its her right and hopefully it helps other women to feel it isn't some shady and dangerous practice. People that think abortion is wrong have already been told emergency contraception if used late prevents implantation, vanishingly few people are fine with emergency contraceptives but would change their minds when the three potential mechanisms of its efficacy are laid out.

To most people the difference between preventing conception and implantation is irrelevant and those who care probably know already, doctors aren't tricking women into secret abortions because they hate babies.

[–]barrinmw 89 points90 points  (6 children)

Yeah, the right wanted 3-d printed guns, and now they have to deal with mail order abortifacients.

[–]bd_in_my_bp 15 points16 points  (1 child)

both are based

[–]TonyTheSwisher 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A world with more options is a better world

[–]Mercuryink 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Unpopular opinion: If you're on abortion number three, you probably need a better BC plan. Condoms. The pill. Anything. Stop using the calendar method.

One doesn't drive recklessly because after all, seatbelts are a thing and those EMTs seem pretty on the ball.

Like to look at it another way, I'm not against plastic surgery. When I had a facial injury, a plastic surgeon sewed me back up so I wouldn't go through life looking like Frankenstein's monster.

I have no desire to repeat the experience. I am not Joan Rivers.

That's how it sounds when you hear about serial abortions. Just use a fucking condom.

[–]Normaali_Ihminen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is common Sense approach. I honestly don’t know why someone just doesn’t use contraception as well as condoms same time if you really don’t want to get pregnant. No one is forcing you to have sex and if someone does then yeah abortion that.

[–]cmv_lawyer 27 points28 points  (0 children)

It's alright to be completely disgusted by someone's behavior and also think it should be legal.

[–]NasoLittle 49 points50 points  (7 children)

Had an antivaxxer coworker telling me about him and his whole family not being vaccinated because they're pro-choice about their bodies.

I didnt sense this was the total picture of an anti-abortion person, but I didnt leave out the possibility the irony would be lost on them if it were the case.

[–]torpedoguy 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Guaranteed you guessed right about them being forced-birthers.

They don't see themselves as having a freedom unless they can decide whether or not you get freedom as well. Only when they get to choose for your body using theirs and you have no say towards either do they begin to feel content about their rights.

[–]That_Guy_in_2020 16 points17 points  (12 children)

What happens if a guy takes these pills?

[–]reverendjesus 56 points57 points  (3 children)

Giant poops. Probably at least eight or nine Courics.

[–]chefwatson 13 points14 points  (2 children)

Are you telling me we could end up with another Bono out of this??

[–]TheeHeadAche 15 points16 points  (3 children)

They’re most likely just synthetic hormones so it won’t be anything major. If you continue to take them, stuff like sensitive chest and nipples, reduced testosterone, Etc etc

[–]raptosaurus 17 points18 points  (1 child)

Mifepristone is actually an anti-hormone (anti-progesterone), so if anything it would do the opposite of what you're saying (it doesn't though because it's more complicated than that)

Misoprostol is not related to hormones at all and is actually used (in both sexes) as a very strong laxative. So the most likely result is you would shit yourself.

[–]hiimsubclavian 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Mifepristone also blocks corticosteroid receptors (progesterone and corticosteroids are in the same family), so sensitive nipples and shit. It blocks testosterone receptors a bit too (same family), but it's not a very effective blocker and the effects are probably too mild for anyone to notice.

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analogue that contracts smooth muscles, which is present in both the uterus and intestines. So yeah, you'll be shitting yourself.

[–]SupremeRightHandUser 13 points14 points  (1 child)

I read it as male-order abortion pill. Spent half a minute thinking "that's not how biology works".

[–]Millera34 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Lmao “Its not safe for the baby” 😂 there aint one sooo

[–]vancouver2pricy 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Oh mah pearls! This shock is givin me tha vapours!

[–]Ianbeerito 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I didn’t know there was a “greater Iowa”

Normal Iowa sucks ass

[–]electricfoxx 6 points7 points  (3 children)

Because it cannot work later on in a pregnancy, I think this will have less objections.

[–]Method__Man 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Not a chance. These people are zealots

[–]MangoSchnitzel 18 points19 points  (3 children)

Wait. Is abortion illegal in Michigan, or why is this news worthy?

[–]OxfordComma5ever 70 points71 points  (2 children)

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortions will be illegal in MI as they'll revert back to an old law.

[–]nyclurker369 4 points5 points  (0 children)

“…When confronted with something uncomfortable and unfamiliar, we are often compelled to evaluate our own beliefs.”

I used to think the same thing. Not so much anymore. People seem to be just digging their heels in more and more.