Last week, I wrote about how CVS Pharmacies in Washington, D.C. are continuing to limit access to condoms by locking up some stores and declining to work with public health activist groups. The main problem with condom lock-up is that it forces customers to interact with several employees, wait around in front of the condom box, and verbally request the product. In short, it’s embarrassing.

Sometimes, the employees make it more so. I stopped by a CVS in Los Angeles last week to pick up some personal items—not condoms, though. I approached the cashier with a box of tampons, some Midol, and a pack of gum. I was with a boy.

The cashier rung up my merchandise, requested my CVS card, and delivered my change. Then, she said this to us:

“You kids have fun this weekend, whatever you do or don’t do!”

Whatever we “do” or “don’t do”? You got us good, CVS. I thought your employees could only make me uncomfortable about doing it when I bought something actually related to sex. Now I know you can make me uncomfortable about doing it (or not doing it!) when I buy anything at all!

Photo by Editor B

Sensitive Man Products need not be locked behind glass doors

To the Employees of Several Washington-Area CVS Stores:

I understand that your CEO, Thomas Ryan, has stated that the CVS name stands for “Convenience, Value, and Service.” This letter takes issue with the third.

It has recently come to my attention, upon purchasing Sensitive Lady Products at several Washington-area CVS stores, that the employees tasked with accepting my payment for these products have not received proper training in How to Not Act Like A Jerk to the Ladies Who Purchase Sensitive Lady Products.

I understand it may be difficult to know how to handle the sale of a Sensitive Lady Product. Perhaps you’re afraid of offending a lady who may be sensitive about purchasing a Sensitive Lady Product; perhaps you have personal religious or political beliefs that require you to be sort of a jerk about doing your job. But you guys are Sensitive Lady Product sales professionals, and you should know how to properly conduct yourselves. Here are some tips.

How to Not Act Like A Jerk to Ladies Purchasing Sensitive Lady Products:

Read More “An Open Letter to CVS “Sensitive Lady Products” Salespeople” »

Shelf Life: Planning your marital act the Divine way.

I am the only customer inside Chantilly’s Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy on Halloween morning, and I’m not buying. A week earlier, the pro-life outfit was blessed by a bishop, sprinkled with holy water, and courted by the national press in preparation for its Oct. 21 grand opening. Right now, it’s hard up for any man off the street.

Read More “Yes, We Have No Birth Control” »

When the Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy opened up in Chantilly last week, it got the blessing of Pharmacists for Life International, an organization devoted to pharmacists who refuse to fill birth control prescriptions. The org’s Web site, pfli.org, claims to be “the only website serving the profession of pharmacy as a totally 100% pro-life philosophy!” But PFLI isn’t simply an informational tool; like any good Internet outlet, it thrives on:

a) hyperbole
b) cattiness

To wit: The homepage says it provides info that the “‘drive-by’ pharmacy media choose to ignore or misreport.” I didn’t even know the pharmacy media existed, much less a conspiratorial pharmacy media bent upon aborting fetuses along with The Truth. PFLI goes on to refer to wonderful feminist blog Feministing as a “radical abortoholic website.”

The best part of the Web site, though, is the “Hate Mail” section, also referred to as “Stupid Sayings.” Here, the Webmaster really gives it to the radical abortoholics who write in with their baby-killing gripes. PFLI introduces one letter by noting, it has been a little while since we got some good hate mail from these advocates of love, peace and Barrie Hussein-style Infanticide.” Another complaint receives a rating of “8 red (commie) stars on the Stupid Scale.” And another letter, written by a “law student” (scare quotes PFLI’s), receives the damning response, “Kiss your mama with that mouth?”

What professional pharmacy would want to be affiliated with this organization?

The Washington Times (manlier than Washingtonian!) announced today’s opening of Chantilly’s newest pharmacy:  The Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy. But unlike other local pharmacies such as CVS and Rite-Aid, the DMC pharmacy caters specifically to the pro-life set. “[T]here will be no birth-control pills, condoms, cigarettes or pornographic magazines” at DMC, writes Times reporter Julia Duin. “There will, however, be booklets on natural family planning.”

The executive director of Divine Mercy Care, Robert Laird, notes that the absent items won’t affect the DMC’s mission of “Bringing the Healing Presence of Christ through Healthcare” because, well, “Birth control is not health care.” Cigarettes and porn mags: also not health care.

Laird added that the pharmacy will be “catering to a special niche of people who like the pro-life message in their business.” Laird says the DMC will neither fill a birth control prescription nor direct customers to another pharmacy that might help them.

The Post wrote its own story about the pharmacy back in June.