Boots morning after pill outrage
Discussion
cookie118 said:
People were going to boycott them.
That is voting with their wallets.
A few people said they would.That is voting with their wallets.
A proportion of that would have actually been customers.
A proportion of those would have actually bothered.
Net outcome would basically be zero.
Social media boycotts go nowhere in reality especially when they're a fringe protest.
Morning after pill works by fouling up the hormones in a womans body, forcing the menstrual cycle to kick in. In pharmaceutical terms, it's a sledgehammer. This isn't like popping an aspirin.
The general mentality of the public is that they will see this as another form of contraception. It isn't. Pharmacies and GP's have a responsibility towards their patients welfare, and over use of the MAP can and will lead to serious hormonal complications.
I've been getting a little concerned about the increase in previously POM being reclassified as GSL, they're not any safer and without a bit of medical supervision, the risk of abuse increases.
Morning after pill is no different, personally Boots shouldn't be dishing them out like sweets. As will all medicines, the prescriber and the dispenser have a duty of care towards the recipient and the MAP is no different.
Boots were right to not drop the price, but the way they handled this was appalling. Then again, they can hardly come right out and say it how it is - that people simply can't be trusted and view this as a form of contraception. Boots would have been better to say the price includes a full consultation with a professional, as the MAP is a potent medication that can have severe complications for the person taking it. Plus, dressing it up as being 'extra protection for women' usually goes down well.
The general mentality of the public is that they will see this as another form of contraception. It isn't. Pharmacies and GP's have a responsibility towards their patients welfare, and over use of the MAP can and will lead to serious hormonal complications.
I've been getting a little concerned about the increase in previously POM being reclassified as GSL, they're not any safer and without a bit of medical supervision, the risk of abuse increases.
Morning after pill is no different, personally Boots shouldn't be dishing them out like sweets. As will all medicines, the prescriber and the dispenser have a duty of care towards the recipient and the MAP is no different.
Boots were right to not drop the price, but the way they handled this was appalling. Then again, they can hardly come right out and say it how it is - that people simply can't be trusted and view this as a form of contraception. Boots would have been better to say the price includes a full consultation with a professional, as the MAP is a potent medication that can have severe complications for the person taking it. Plus, dressing it up as being 'extra protection for women' usually goes down well.
Wiccan of Darkness said:
...
Boots were right to not drop the price, but the way they handled this was appalling. ...
Why? AIUI they didn't say much different to what you have in essence - priced so as not to incentivise inappropriate use.Boots were right to not drop the price, but the way they handled this was appalling. ...
1) They probably have a point
2) Why the faux outrage from all quarters? If feminists and others don't like their stance, boycott their stores. Boots won't do it again. But before getting all upset, maybe they should just think about what Boots have said and accept that there are large numbers of people in our society who are stupid and need that sort of message given to them.
Murph7355 said:
2) Why the faux outrage from all quarters? If feminists and others don't like their stance, boycott their stores. Boots won't do it again. But before getting all upset, maybe they should just think about what Boots have said and accept that there are large numbers of people in our society who are stupid and need that sort of message given to them.
Women don't. Or at lease they are too bloody minded to accept that they do.
Murph7355 said:
2) Why the faux outrage from all quarters? If feminists and others don't like their stance, boycott their stores. Boots won't do it again. But before getting all upset, maybe they should just think about what Boots have said and accept that there are large numbers of people in our society who are stupid and need that sort of message given to them.
Thats the great contradiction today - when not screaming about being belittled etc people do expect to have their bums cleaned - this dawned on me when the smoking ban came in how many people were all "oh its good it'll help me to give up". The whole freedom/liberty/personal responsibily angle was dead to them. You go into DIY forums and peoples attitude is often "if its legal to buy a fuse board, then its not my fault if I fit it wrong, I expect to be actively protected from my own stupidity"Its foolish by boots the way theyve handled this but its a fine line to cross...
cookie118 said:
Because they didn't refer to the cost etc of dispensing or anything in the statement of why their prices were so high.
Instead they said it was to prevent 'incentivising inappropriate use'.
That's the knub of it. Instead they said it was to prevent 'incentivising inappropriate use'.
If they had said "our price is so high because it includes a consultation" then that would have been that.
It was the implicit moral control that people are objecting to. It was a PR shot to the foot. Fortunately Boots also stock bandages and antiseptic.
Lord Marylebone said:
I'm going to go against the grain of the thread here and agree with this.
Boots tried to make themselves moral arbiters of society, which is absolutely not their job. That is what upset everyone, and rightly so.
The price increase was simply their way of carrying out their moral stand.
I also agree that this pill should be available as easily and affordable as possible, as it is indeed far cheaper and less emotionally damaging than an unwanted child or a termination.
I'm well aware that PH likes to get all 'Victorian' over matters such as these, but in this case I believe Boots really got it wrong.
Boots tried to make themselves moral arbiters of society, which is absolutely not their job. That is what upset everyone, and rightly so.
The price increase was simply their way of carrying out their moral stand.
I also agree that this pill should be available as easily and affordable as possible, as it is indeed far cheaper and less emotionally damaging than an unwanted child or a termination.
I'm well aware that PH likes to get all 'Victorian' over matters such as these, but in this case I believe Boots really got it wrong.
Exactly so. I should have read your post before making mine.
Wiccan of Darkness said:
Boots would have been better to say the price includes a full consultation with a professional, as the MAP is a potent medication that can have severe complications for the person taking it. Plus, dressing it up as being 'extra protection for women' usually goes down well.
Quite. Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Sunday 23 July 15:20
Murph7355 said:
Dare you to say that to MrsPM.
Women aren't immune from stupidity from what I've seen (in the past of course
). (In fact to need to resort to these pills at all tends to prove it)
Wow this thread is something elseWomen aren't immune from stupidity from what I've seen (in the past of course
). (In fact to need to resort to these pills at all tends to prove it)So women who need to resort to the morning after pill are stupid?
What about the men they have sex with?
hairyben said:
Thats the great contradiction today - when not screaming about being belittled etc people do expect to have their bums cleaned - this dawned on me when the smoking ban came in how many people were all "oh its good it'll help me to give up". The whole freedom/liberty/personal responsibily angle was dead to them. You go into DIY forums and peoples attitude is often "if its legal to buy a fuse board, then its not my fault if I fit it wrong, I expect to be actively protected from my own stupidity"
Its foolish by boots the way theyve handled this but its a fine line to cross...
People increasingly seem to want the world to be like Disneyland - made of fibreglass, and totally without any hazards at all. They swim in a shark infested sea, get attacked, and then expect compensation. Ring any changes you like on that scenario.Its foolish by boots the way theyve handled this but its a fine line to cross...
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: As said, it's not Boots job to play moral arbiter.
They could have given lots of reasons not to reduce the price but they gave one that's essentially suggested it's a "lifestyle choice" to use the morning after pill.
So why was the Co-op Bank so successful with its ethical investments, could it have been their moral stance?They could have given lots of reasons not to reduce the price but they gave one that's essentially suggested it's a "lifestyle choice" to use the morning after pill.
voyds9 said:
So why was the Co-op Bank so successful with its ethical investments, could it have been their moral stance?
People have a choice where to invest.People don't always have a choice but to use the MAP because it's not always as simple as the "stop spreading their legs instead of whining so much" suggestion put forward by the OP.
Also Boots are arguably in a bit of a borderline monopolistic position in many areas where they may be the pharmacy in your GP as well as being the only one(s) in the area.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: People have a choice where to invest.
People don't always have a choice but to use the MAP because it's not always as simple as the "stop spreading their legs instead of whining so much" suggestion put forward by the OP.
Also Boots are arguably in a bit of a borderline monopolistic position in many areas where they may be the pharmacy in your GP as well as being the only one(s) in the area.
Four choices for not having childrenPeople don't always have a choice but to use the MAP because it's not always as simple as the "stop spreading their legs instead of whining so much" suggestion put forward by the OP.
Also Boots are arguably in a bit of a borderline monopolistic position in many areas where they may be the pharmacy in your GP as well as being the only one(s) in the area.
1. Don't have sex
2. Use protection
3. Morning after pill.
4. Get an abortion
If a town is big enough to have a Boots it is big enough to hold a second pharmacy.
Can you name the person who requires the MAP, who lives in a village with no NHS free prescription service, who only has a Boots available and who doesn't have bus fare to the NHS centre or pharmacy.
Or if you want an easier one a village big enough to have a Boots but no NHS provision.
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