Editorial

Have you picked up a prescription at a pharmacy recently? If you did, you know that the pharmacist is required to talk with you about your medication. The pharmacist seems to be playing a more important role in health care today.

Pharmacists will ask how your medication is working. They check for interaction of drugs. Sometimes only the pharmacist may be aware of all the medications a person is taking, since patients today may have more than one doctor prescribing medications.

Some pharmacists - like doctors - may believe certain drugs are not appropriate for some patients. Pharmacists may also have moral concerns about prescribing certain drugs or treatment.

Right of conscience. In Wisconsin, the "right of conscience" for health care workers has been respected for over 30 years. The state has recognized the right of health care institutions and some health care workers to refuse to participate in specific activities that they deem to be morally objectionable, points out the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC).

"Particularly in times of great change, when we are grappling with these complex questions about how we best serve the dignity of human life, society needs health care workers to be people of conscience," says John Huebscher, WCC executive director.

Governor's veto. On April 21, Governor Jim Doyle vetoed legislation that would have expanded conscience protections for state health care workers. The WCC disagreed with the governor's characterization of the proposed legislation as a "disservice to patients and our health care system."

"It is appropriate for our laws to recognize the complexity of moral concerns and protect health care workers who are seeking to adhere to their commitment to 'do no harm,'" said Huebscher.

The proposed law would have expanded the current conscience protections for health care institutions and workers to include protection for refusal to participate in assisted suicide, in destruction of human embryos, and in procedures using fetal tissue or organs obtained through a procured abortion.

Will be revisited. The state legislature's support for the proposal means that this issue may be revisited in future legislative sessions. Pro-Life Wisconsin (PLW) - which ended up not supporting the bill passed by the legislature this time - is promoting a petition calling on state legislators to protect the conscience rights of pharmacists who refuse to engage in practices that violate the sanctity of human life, specifically chemical abortion and euthanasia.

"Pharmacists are valued members of the professional health care team who should not be forced to choose between their consciences and their livelihoods," said PLW. "We ask you to sign this petition and have your family, friends, and neighbors sign it as well." The petition is available at www.prolifewisconsin.org The goal is to deliver over 15,000 signatures to the legislature in spring 2005.

I encourage concerned citizens to support efforts to protect the conscience rights of pharmacists and all health care workers in our state.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Thanks for contribution
to Holy See

To the publisher:

With deep gratitude I wish to acknowledge receipt of the check in the amount of $56,000.00 representing a contribution for the support of the Holy See from the Diocese of Madison for 2004, in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1271.

While I can assure you that this sum will be sent to the Secretariat of State on your behalf, permit me to offer in the name of Pope John Paul II an initial word of thanks for this expression of generosity.

May God continue to bless you and the faithful you serve.

With cordial regards, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio
Washington, D.C.