Inside SB 3: Pharmacist Refusal Bill

The Blogmeister has to agree with the “opponents” on this one.  First, because of the opposition reasons cited below.  But more importantly, this could really get into slippery slope territory.  For example, what about clerks who feel cigarettes and alcohol are dangerous to the health of the person making the purchase?  What about people who work in gas stations who are against gambling and don’t want to sell lottery tickets?  Shouldn’t these individuals be afforded the same option as pharmacists if this passes?  It seems to me the issue of what these medications do should be addressed, and the medications possibly prohibited, by the legislature instead. 

From WTHR:

Indianapolis – Indiana lawmakers are debating a bill over a pharmacists right to not dispense certain drugs.Senator Jeff Drozda introduced the bill before the General Assembly Wednesday.It would allow a pharmacist to choose not to dispense a drug or medical device if the pharmacist believes it could be used to cause an abortion or destroy an unborn child or be used for assisted suicide, euthanasia, or a mercy killing. The law is based on the personal beliefs of the pharmacist and states that the pharmacist’s employer could not take action against him or her for refusing to fill a prescription for those reasons.

Some lawmakers are concerned the bill is not specific enough about what drugs it covers, and could include contraceptives. Opponents say pharmacist refusal laws are problematic particularly for women in rural areas who may be unable to drive to another pharmacy to get an emergency contraceptive prescription filled. They also say it allows a third party’s personal beliefs to interfere with the patient-doctor relationship.

Autism, Anorexia, Anxiety, Rxing Kids, & Abusing Cold Meds

Wow, a bunch of Mental Health Related stories today.  Here’s the round-up:

Autism

• From the Indy Star: 

Riley Hospital for Children today will announce a $2.2 million federal grant to expand research and clinical care services at the hospital’s Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center.

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Indianapolis, who was instrumental in securing the funds, will be on hand for the announcement. The center, established in 1997, was named for his grandson, who has an autism spectrum disorder.

•  From MSNBC:

A rare genetic variation dramatically raises the risk of developing autism, a large study showed, opening new research targets for better understanding the disorder and for treating it.

• From WTHR:

Autism cases in California continued to climb even after a mercury-based vaccine preservative that some people blame for the neurological disorder was removed from routine childhood shots, a new study found.

Depression

• From MSNBC:

Women who doll up with too much perfume might not know it because they’re depressed.

That’s the conclusion of Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld, a physician and autoimmune disease researcher at Tel Aviv University in Israel who studies “autoantibodies.” This class of chemicals launches attacks against the body’s cells, often in patients with autoimmune disease such as lupus.

“Our scientific findings suggest that women who are depressed are also losing their sense of smell, and may overcompensate by using more perfume,” he said.

Eating Disorders

• From MSNBC:

Sitting down for regular family meals may protect teen girls from developing eating disorders, according to a new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Substance Abuse

• From MSNBC:

About 3.1 million people between the ages of 12 to 25 — or about 5 percent of the age group — have used over-the-counter cough and cold medicine to get high, a U.S. government survey found.

Rxing Kids

• The Carlat Psychiatry Blog:

Gives us this link to the entire Frontline episode about psychotropic medication prescriptions for children and teens.  Dr. Carlat actually appears in the documentary.  If this show doesn’t scare the heck out of you, nothing will.  The Blogmeister was particularly struck by one of the father’s saying, “why are we giving him all these pills, where’s the therapy?”

Anxiety

• From WTHR:

Researchers reported Monday that chronic anxiety can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack, at least in men. The findings add another trait to a growing list of psychological profiles linked to heart disease, including anger or hostility, Type A behavior, and depression.

Feel free to discuss any or all of the above. 

New Pres. and CEO for Unit @ Wellpoint

From the Indy Star:

WellPoint today announced that Brian A. Sassi has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the company’s consumer business unit, which includes Medicaid customers.

Sassi, formerly president of Blue Cross of California, replaces Joan Herman, who announced her plans last year to retire in 2008.

Sassi will assume full duties of the job Feb. 1.

“Brian Sassi has a 25-year career in the health insurance industry and an impressive record of accomplishments in our company,” said Angela F. Braly, president and chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based WellPoint, in a statement.Since joining Blue Cross of California in 1989, Sassi has held a number of leadership roles, including vice president of operations and strategic initiatives.
Prior to joining Blue Cross, Sassi held a number of industry management positions.