Since June 2024, my dear friends at QSIDE have been investigating pharmacy refusal-to-fill incidents, driven by both anecdotal evidence and the legal realities surrounding prescription refusals. They’ve learned that pharmacists are legally permitted to refuse prescriptions on ethical or moral grounds, but there is very little centralized data on these incidents. This lack of transparency makes it harder for patients to be informed about where they can receive the care they need.
Key research questions include:
- Are certain prescriptions more likely to face refusal?
- Are there geographic patterns to these refusals?
- How do implicit biases influence these decisions?
To better understand this issue, QSIDE has created a confidential and anonymous survey to collect data from those who’ve experienced or witnessed pharmacy refusals. Their goal is to make this data accessible to the public and to raise awareness of this critical issue in healthcare.
QSIDE Needs Your Help
Please share this survey with your network! By reaching more people, we can ensure that patients are better informed and that we can work toward better access to care.
