(KRON) — A transgender man took to Reddit to talk out a couple of native Walgreens pharmacist refusing to offer him his prescribed treatment, all as a result of it “went in opposition to his faith.”
Roscoe Rike, 30, of Oakland, says he has been going to the Walgreens pharmacy on Telegraph Avenue for practically a decade. He’s been choosing up his HRT, or hormone-replacement remedy, on the identical location for the previous three years, all the time with out challenge.
Rike says this time was completely different. A pharmacist that Rike had by no means seen on the location earlier than requested what precisely the treatment was for, which appeared uncommon.
“I advised him I used to be fairly certain that it wasn’t any of his enterprise,” Rike mentioned. At this level, the pharmacist then advised Rike that he wouldn’t be capable of fill the prescription “attributable to his non secular beliefs,” Rike mentioned.
That’s when Rike thought he’d higher begin recording. Video from the interplay exhibits the pharmacist standing on the pharmacy laptop.
“So proper now you’re telling me that you simply’re going to disclaim me my treatment due to your private faith, you’re not my f*****g physician,” Rike responds. The pair fall silent for some time, and a fellow buyer may be heard within the background.
After one other trade, the pharmacist may be heard suggesting that Rike come again some time later, when one other member of the pharmacy crew would assist him. The video cuts off. Rike says he refused to return again at a later time, as he had already known as the shop to substantiate his treatment was prepared and had walked over to choose it up.
“At this level, I fully misplaced my mood and demanded to talk to a supervisor,” Rike mentioned. The pharmacist walked away and a pharmacy technician known as the supervisor to the entrance desk.
KRON On is streaming now
“The supervisor who arrived apologized profusely, as did just a few of the opposite employees,” Rike mentioned. The supervisor was in a position to give him his treatment, however Rike mentioned that’s not sufficient. “I don’t know in regards to the legality of what he did, but when it was authorized, we have to change the regulation,” Rike advised KRON4.
Rike has since been involved with the Transgender Regulation Heart, and says he plans on submitting a proper grievance with the Walgreens company workplace. Till then, he’s warning fellow transgender individuals to keep away from choosing up their HRT at that location, as a result of they could possibly be denied care.
KRON4 reached out to Walgreens with questions in regards to the incident. The corporate mentioned it can’t talk about particular person affected person interactions attributable to privateness, however it’ll “assessment the matter.”
“Our insurance policies are designed to make sure we meet the wants of our sufferers and prospects, whereas respecting the non secular and ethical beliefs of our crew members. In an occasion the place a crew member has a non secular or ethical conviction that stops them from assembly a buyer’s want, we require the crew member to refer the shopper to a different worker or supervisor on obligation who can full the transaction. These situations, nonetheless, are very uncommon.” — Walgreens
