Exploring pharmacists’ views surrounding conscientious objection to abortion and implications in practice

Abstract Background General Pharmaceutical Council standards (UK) state ‘pharmacy professionals have the right to practise in line with their religion, personal values or beliefs as long they …make sure that person-centred care is not compromised’, indicating a potential conflict for pharmacists who wish exercise conscientious objection (CO) abortion while maintaining duty of patients. Objective The objective this study was explore pharmacists’ views and whether included supply EC impact on practice. Method Eighteen UK were interviewed using semistructured interviews. Interviews transcribed verbatim, imported into NVivo11 analysed thematic analysis. Key findings Five themes identified: what constitutes abortion, influences beliefs, conflicts conscience, accommodating conscience professional obligations. Views polarised relation role emergency contraception (EC) an abortifacient. Religion often viewed reason underpinning CO abortion. Conflicts referral employability objectors. Some providing patient choice incompatible Conclusions This shows challenges surrounding pharmacy While majority believe should could be accommodated, can prove challenging certain working environments, both ensuring patients upheld due ongoing debate concerning it has definitive not.