Ugovor vesti pri lekarniških farmacevtih
Conscientious objection among community pharmacists : stališča slovenske splošne populacije : attitudes of the Slovenian general population

slovenian

2025

volume 76, issue 3

community pharmacists   conscientious objection   general population   online survey

Slovensko farmacevtsko društvo
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The exercise of conscientious objection applies to pharmacists who refuse to dispense medications based on moral or religious beliefs, creating ethical dilemmas due to the conflict between the pharmacist’s personal convictions and patients’ rights. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of the Slovenian general population regarding this right among community pharmacists. A questionnaire was developed based on a systematic literature review, and an online survey was conducted on a sample of the Slovenian general population. The assumption that very few community pharmacists invoke conscientious objection was confirmed by the rare experiences reported by patients. Most respondents had heard about conscientious objection among pharmacists for the first time in this study, yet 65% supported allowing pharmacists to exercise this right. Support was higher among religious and less-educated individuals. However, most respondents expected guaranteed medication access, either from the objecting pharmacist, prioritizing patient rights, or from another pharmacist within the pharmacy.

20.05.2026