A Washington state pharmacy is refusing to sell antibiotics, saying the state's true goal is to suppress religious objections by druggists – not to promote timely access to the medicines for people who need them.
“’Anti’ means against, and ‘bio’ means ‘life’,” said Stuart Pidhick, pharmacist and owner of Footprints Pharmacy, “and Christians aren’t anti-life, we’re pro-life.”
Critics have questioned the reasoning behind his refusal to stock and sell antibiotics. “This is just plain stupid,” said May Dupname, microbiologist and researcher. “I can’t believe this jackass is licensed in the first place. “
When questioned about the intersection of his religious beliefs and accepted medical ethics, Pidhick responded, “I mean what I say, and say what I mean. There’s nothing Hippocratic about it.”
According to Dupname, refusing to sell antibiotics misses the entire point of medical treatment. “Whether it’s bacterial, viral, fungal –- whatever -- you kill the disease, and save the patient. The patient’s life always comes first.”
Pidhick disagrees. “The Bible says we are judged by how we treat the smallest among us,” said Pidhick, “You don’t get any smaller than bacteria, and bacteria just ain’t viable outside the human body.”
“We believe life begins at infection.”