Should Morals and Medicine mix?

Ahh, after a long break, I finally feel compelled to write. I am actually using this blog as a 'brainstorm' for my Medical Ethics term paper due in one week, and which I haven't started. No worries, as long as I have found a subject in which I can become passionate about, the words flow quite nicely.
I have a list of topics in which to choose the subject of my paper. I ended up choosing "Whether Pharmacists have the right to deny prescriptions on the grounds of moral conscience?" The main focus in this article involves the rapid increase in availability in drugs preventing unplanned pregnancy, such as Plan B or the "morning after pill", as well as abortion drugs, such as "RU-486". While RU-486 is only available through and for use in medical facilities such as clinics, hospitals, and doctors offices, Plan B is available behind the pharmacy counter, and in many states, including Ohio, do not require a prescription, so long as the patient is over the age of seventeen. Many pharmacists are blocking patients from acquiring that drug, due to their moral beliefs.
Quick background: Plan B is basically a mix of hormones found in everyday oral birth control pills. These are meant to be taken if the women was not on any type of contraceptives and has unprotected sex. Basically, its just taking birth control for two days. This is not considered abortion in the medical field. RU-486 is an drug that can be taken up to 49 days post conception, and will either prevent implantation, or disrupt an already implanted embryo. (Side note: "86" is a common term for 'killing' or 'destruction'.. thus some outrage has occured with the name of this drug, for if you manipulate it as so, you literally can interpret it as: aRe yoU for(4) 86'ing babies... whether that was the intent, the verdicts still out.)
Now, I work in a pharmacy, and Plan B is in high demand. It's not unlikely to see at least one or two patients a week coming in to buy this--and this is only when I'm at work.. not counting all other operating hours. I haven't encountered a pharmacist that has denied the sale of it to a patient, but there is a fellow technician who won't take any part in the dispensing process. How do I feel, you ask? Well, I am personally not for abortion, and I take oral contraceptives to ensure that I don't have a child a year.. not in my best interests. However, I feel that this decision is a personal one and I have no right to interfere with another person's situation. There may be extenuating circumstances of which I am not aware, nor at liberty to force the patient to divulge such information in order to recieve a medication that they are legally allowed to require on their own accord. I wouldn't jump in front of someone buying Tylenol.. this is, in technical terms, no difference in the availability of either drug.
So, while I DO support the open availability of the emergency contraception, I do not support the dispensing of RU-486 at any pharmacy. This drug has a higher risk of complications, it is an actual early abortion of an embryo. I also believe that it should be taken under the supervision of a physician, and a follow-up appointment should be warranted to ensure that... I don't know how to say this, but I guess that everything that should have happened did, and everything that shouldn't of.. didn't.
Some people do not see the difference in the morning after pill and RU-486. I believe that the morning after pill is nearly identical to what women take as everyday oral contraceptives, and thus, preventing a pregnancy through this method is no different than one prevented through birth control. There are those who argue that you could be preventing a fertilized egg to implant, and this is killing, but then you must also take a moral stand against birth control.. because there are two methods to birth control: 1). preventing release of an egg, and 2). should an egg be released and fertilized, preventing implantation in the uterus.
In my eyes, I believe that preventing a patient from getting the morning after pill is not ethical. Another way to argue this point, other than morally, would include: the patient now will not have to endure an emotional, and possible harmful abortion. This has to be seen as some kind of benefit, yes? Also, cost and availibility are important, especially to lower-income and uninsured women who cannot afford an abortion, medical care, or in the end, a child!
Bah! I'm cashed out already. Hopefully, this will give me some better ideas/arguments for/against this topic. Wish.me.luck.

A Weekend of Irony

I haven't written in quite some time, I just haven't had the energy to spew my thoughts after my long work weeks. But lots has happened, so let's get a quick catch up:
Two weekends ago, our pup, Jedi, began vomiting after eating some sand from Omri's sandbox. Idiot, I know. By the next day he is not eating or drinking, nor moving his bowels or urinating. So we take him to the closest animal hospital to us, in Pet Smart in Spring Meadows. They suspect a virus or parasite, but a boatload of money later reveals that he is not hosting any parasites. He is sent home with Carafate to inhibit the vomiting and some special food to spark his appetite. Fast forward to Saturday morning, Jedi doesnt want to move, eat, or anything. We feed him water witha medicine dropper, and take him back to the vet to search for an answer. They suspect an obstruction in his bowels, but caution against surgery, because he has a severe heart murmur, and cannot undergo anesthesia. We become heartbroken and decide that if surgery is necessary, we will just go for euthanasia, to prevent him further pain and a likelihood of an unsuccessful surgery. Luckily, X-rays reveal that the obstruction is in his colon already, so the vet reaches in and grabs it. What caused the blockage? Hair ties, sticks, grass, and such. The irony? I was reading "Mercy" by Jodi Picoult. The premise? A husband is being tried for the murder of his wife, who asked for her death in her final stages of cancer.
Jedi is now a chipper pup again, and wants to eat EVERYTHING, as well as being super rambunctious. Does anyone know why they're called Boxers? Because when they 'play', they actually 'box', which Frankies eye found out in an unfortuanate hit.

Fast forward to that Sunday night. Frankie decides to remove the ramp from the front of the house. His reason: We dont want to give robbers the wrong idea about this house. You see, there have been a string of home invasions of the elderly in the Toledo area recently, and we dont want to give anyone the inkling that we are easy prey. So the ramp comes down with the help of Kyle's chainsaw. The irony? The next morning, our car is broken into and the GPS stolen. Go figure! Thankfully, everything else was spared, save for the 5 CD's in there, Omri's mix was in the actual player, so that was spared, phew!

It was truly a trying weekend, as other bad news chose to fall upon me the day that Jedi was in the hospital. But, since I will need a good long rant, I will save it for another blog. Heh heh heh, I love cliffhangers.

caerphilly

Caerphilly, a town in South Wales, and also a word from the National Spelling Bee. I don't think that I spelled a single word right. Those kids are crazy.

Anywho, today we decided it was a nice day to go the the Zoo. As did every elementary school in the tri-state area. So many yellow school buses! We also bought a membership, so we can frequent as much as we like. Needless to say, Omri is so excited, she's practically jumping out of her pants, she was willing to have her hair brushed and put into piggy-tails once she heard of our destination. We rode the African safari train (mine and Olive's first time!), and got some good looks at a giraffe and some antelopes.

When we got home, Jedi was continuing his lethargy that had started last night when he also began vomiting, refusing to eat and not pooping as well. Frankie, the web MD, looks up his symptoms and says he might have Parvo, a parasite that kills 75 % of dogs that contract it. So he hightails him to an animal hospital in Pet Smart to get an experts opinion. All in all, he has no virus or parasites in his intestines, the vomiting and lack of appetite is most likely due to some play sand that he decided would be a good snack earlier that day. And he was diagnosed with a heart murmur that's an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. This has me worried. Some dogs(mostly bred ones) are born with it, and will eventually grow out of it, however it can also be a sign of congestive heart failure or valves that aren't doing their job. Either way, there's a lot of turbulence in his lub-dub. We have to take him to a veterinary cardiologist to find out exactly what's wrong. We have decided to hold off and see if he continues his lethargy after he has begun eating and pooping regularly. It stinks that his heart is broken. The vet says we could call the breeders to get a refund or exchange, but we love our little guy a whole bunch. Hopefully, he grows out of it.

Kerry is over tonight, she cut her hair and now has bangs. Frankie and I decided that she looks either 9 or 10, but still lovely. She thinks that Nicholas looks like Ashton Kutcher, now I'm questioning her judgement.

Olive turned 5 months old last week. I hadnt realized she was getting 'so' old until I was watching her wiggle around on her back a few days before. She is eating up a storm (I couldn't get enough green beans in fast enough the other day),trying to hold her own bottle, and rolling this way and that way, and also trying to sit up. She laughs and blows raspberrys and is an all around cool chicka. Omri likes to try and make her laugh, today she was doing 'I'm a little teapot'.

Omri is now a big fan of knock knock jokes.
Her favorites:
Knock, knock
whos there
car go
car go who
car go beep beeeeeep

knock knock
whos there
boo
boo who
dont cry, its just a joke

and the banana-orange one, although she tends to go straight for 'orange ya glad I didn't say banana?'

My favorite
Knock, knock
who's there?
Olive
Olive who?
I love you!
..... no, I'm Omri!! (she says it every time.)

Time to go make some Ghiradelli dark chocolate brownies, or cookies... hmmmm

I think I may be getting the sickness.

It's no surprise that I would be getting sick. Over the past week, Omri was sick twice. First with a vomiting/fever fit, then with a cough/runny nose over the weekend. I thought working at a pharmacy had made me immune, but I havent been sick in 2 or 3 years, so I can't complain too much.

I didn't feel like this at my interview this morning, I was surprisingly wide awake after getting up at 5:30. I get to Findlay, a little early, and I read some of my book (The Associate by John Grisham) to calm my nerves. I go in, write a decent essay, and wait to talk to the Dean. In the meantime, there's a little girl in the office, playing with ball with an older man and her parents. I get to talking, and I end up mentioning that I have two girls at home. A few minutes later, the older man announces that he is the Dean and he's ready for my interview. We go in, and the first subject he wants to talk about is how I'm going to handle two children and school. I reply that while it's dificult, I make it work, I have a good support system, and that my past two semesters I've gotten straight A's. He then says, No, I'm talking about the guilt that you are going to recieve when you aren't spending enough time at home with your children. I'm momentarily taken aback at this, but say that I feel the means justifies the ends, and while they may not understand at this young age, it is for the benefit of their future. He proceeds to pester me on the subject for a few more minutes, and finally begins the interview, which seems to proceed either downhill or a plateaued direction. First, he asks me, why Findlay? I say, they have pharmacy, small school, and that their recent accreditation may offer some unique and new perspectives on pharmacy practice, as well as other such comments. He then says, "Basically you didn't get into UT", and writes this down as my ONLY comment on this matter. Seriously? Thanks... A few mediocre Q&A's later, he presents me with an ethical question:
What would you do if you found a black envelope outside in the parking lot?
Me: Turn it into the office.
Him: What if it contained enough cash to pay for your tuition for the next 5 years?
Me: Well, If I found an envelope, I wouldn't look into it, but if it should be open, and I see this, I would still turn it in. I have lost money before, usually only a 5 or so, and I was upset about that. I would hope that if I lost money, someone would turn it in for me. I would choose to give someone else that respect.
Him: What would you do if we called in 6 months and state that no one picked it up?
Me: Tell the University to use it for whatever it needs.
Him: You wouldn't tell us what exactly to do with it?
Me: No, I don't really think that's my right if it's not my money to begin with.
Him: You don't have to answer just what I want to hear you know.
Me: (crickets).......................
The interview ends not much later, and I proceed to take a tour. It's a really neat campus, with lots of nice amenities. I am not at all confidant about gainng admission though. I find out the last week of May/first week of June. We'll see.

In other news, I bought a pickup for $250 from Patrick's work. It's WELL used, and the steering is slightly off, but I really enjoy it. I always wanted a pick up. Fun. Frankie tilled an area for a garden (where Mary used to be). In the process he found an ice cream scooper, a super long metal pole, and a cat skull. We are now making plans on what to plant. I just wish it would warm up and stop raining. Omri just got a bicycle, police car, and T- ball set, and I really would love for her to be outside more, but the weather has not been permitting. Soon enough I suppose. Time to go police the Jedi and Omri tag team.

Procrastination, exclamation!

I just finished a 4 page book review about 10 minutes ago, and it's due in about 3 minutes. I began at about 9:30, that's a new record. While I'm famous for procrastinating, I usually never cut it THIS close, but alas, my clothes are still wet from laundering earlier. I officially offed my mom's on the verge dryer. It was doomed, and it choose to crap out on my laundry day. I tried the whole clothesline thing, but it the sun was setting, so, now they're going to be hanging in my bathroom until Patrick can install the proper devices to activate my laundromat in the basement (another instance of procrastinating! I've only lived her for, SIX MONTHS!). Argh. Ugh. Blah.

So while I was not in anyway uber-productive, my lovely Frank the Tank was. In case you havent seen the visual representation in Facebook, our backyard began its long journey of it's facelift. Not much has been done to that space but cutting of grass in the past year or so, or maybe longer, I don't know. Therefore, it was overrun by plantage. I had no idea what was what, save for the grass, large tree(still dont know what KIND of tree it is) and the lilac bush/shrub/tree. Apparentely, after I headed off for mi madre's Frankie decided to do something about it. And he enlisted Neighbor Kyle's help. Kyle has lots of tools. And the renovation begun... Basically all unnecessary freestanding edifices about the yard were yanked out--save for big tree and lilac. It was interesting to see the backyard in a more open way, it seemed a lot bigger! The only haphazard part that remains is along the back fence, but since railroad tracks exist on the opposite side, I'm quite ok with that. I am not gardening inclined, so I'm not sure what is a weed-except for dandelions, which I leave because Omri likes them. I also lack any ounce of creative ability in that field, so I imagine that for now, keeping grass at a reasonable length and dog poop under control is my main focus for the yard. Well, I would love a picnic table, patio, and swing set, but that's another year/battle.

Frankie is also making the awesome list this week because of his homemade salsa. I was apprehensive, because while I enjoy salsa, I am quit the weakling when it comes to hot/spicy foods. I love 'em, but then my nose runs, and my eyes water, and I turn into that guy from Dumb and Dumber, lying on the floor of an off the highway diner. Anyways, he goes to Krogers to buy some produce and gets to work with a knife and the Magic Bullet(not that magic). End product is a slush that looks like it originated from some swamp that contains bacteria and fungi that have yet to be named. BUT IT WAS DELICIOUS! Perfect amount of jalepeno, cilantro, and all the other good stuff. He did a re-make on Saturday, but ended up chopping the tomatoes by hand, rather than adding it into the Bullet. Even more tasty. I keep telling him to open up a restaurant, featuring his famous taters and salsa.

This week also featured two food firsts for Omri: Barrys Bagels and Munster cheese. She thoroughly enjoyed a cinnamon vanilla bagel, topped with strawberry cream cheese. She apparently wanted to eat it for every meal that entire day. When Frankie bought the 'maters for salsa round 2, he went to Monnette's, and also got 2 pounds of Munster. I had to admit that I had never even tried, and I love it! Of course, Omri comes over "What you doin?" --Eatin' Munster cheese. "Monster cheese!" This was quite the novelty for her, and she loves it, as long as it's not an edge piece that has some of the coloring on it--I believe thats from a vegetable rub or something of that sort. Funness. I am always pleased when that child eats something new, let alone eats at all!

Off to eat Munster cheese and rest my neurons.

Mourning a fish and an incredible piece of steak

The past weekend was full of events and a general blast. The weather was amazing, and we enjoyed some good foods. It makes me even more excited for summer!

Olive had a doctors appointment, weighed in at 14 pounds, 24 inches long. What a big girl! She is loving her veggies and cereal. Baths are also a special time. She has begun to stick out of the baby tub so we put a little water in the bottom of the tub and see what would happen. She has now discovered the joy of splashing!

She also enjoys being in the bath with Omri. It's quite fascinating to see the bond that has already formed between them. Basically, Olive loves Omri. She sees her and instantly laughs and/or smiles. It's adorable.

So Friday begins with a 10 to 6 work day, that actually lasted until 7 due to some last minute nursing home deliveries. Frankie and I had made plans to go out, so Aunt Kerry was over to watch the girlies. Since they both go down around 7 or 8, we had them asleep before we left so it would be an easy job for Ker. Our original plan was to go to Olive Garden. I'm pretty sure that we always plan on going there, but never actually make it. We drive by, and of course it's a wait on Friday night, so we set out for other options. The Olliver House downtown became intriguing, so we set off. We arrive and walk in, through Maumee Bay Brewing and end up in Rockwells. Instantly I feel underdressed in nice jeans and a shirt in this fan-cay establishment. We go anyways. We decide to get a bruschetta for an appetizer, and I had some Pinot Grigio (sp?). That bread was amazing! The roca tomatoes were so juicy and marinated delicously. Then there was the mozarella on top. REAL mozarella. AH-mazing! We then wait patiently for our steaks to arrive. Our server arrives and informs us that we need to be careful, because our plates are a scorching 500 degrees! I hear the juices from the meat sizzling as she sets down perhaps the most beautiful piece of cow that has ever been seen by a meat fanatic. The aroma was mouth-watering, and I was ready to dig in--although slightly cautious of the hot plate! The first bite is nothing short of heaven. It was cooked to medium rare perfection, and I thought to myself, if I get Mad Cow, it had better be from this most damn delicious filet that I have ever been in company with. Needless to say, it was worth every penny (and it was a lot of pennies)! I told Frankie something along the lines of : I am going to cry with every other food I eat, because it will never taste as amazing as this. This surely must be on everyones list of what to accomplish before they die: EAT AT ROCKWELLS. A glass of red wine later, we decide to head downstairs to Mutz. Except, we are informed that Mutz no longer exists. The other bars in the downtown area are a no-go due to a Hens game that just let out. So we head home, with a pit stop at Doc Watsons for one more beer (just plain ole Bud Light).

Saturday morning, the fam plus Ker head to Bob Evans for some breakfast. I love their food, even if I did work there for 4 years. Country Biscuit breakfast with sausage gravy is the most yummiest! We proceeed to drive up River Road and back down again, to stop off at Lickity split for the first soft serve ice cream of the season. I'm pretty sure they have the same signs for the past 10 years. Afterwards, Ker, Ollie and I head to Target for odds and ends, because who DOESN'T love a good Target trip?? That night the girls and I ended up at Raeann's camper. Omri had a blast, wanted to play at the beach (which was the box) or the water (which was the actual beach on the lake/pond. We had some hamburgs from the firepit and Omri rode on a bicycle for the first time. Well, more like Nate pushed her around the drive on the bicycle.

Sunday was yet ANOTHER beautiful day. It started of very strange though. Omri woke up that morning crying. When asked what was the matter, she said "cookie monster". Well, what was wrong with cookie monser? "He's sad." Why is he sad? "He went poopoo in the potty" She then goes on to repeat this, except with Elmo. She was VERY upset about this for most of the day, and I'm slightly concerned that this could impair potty training.
We headed to Borders in search of Duck Tales DVD, and ended up scoring on a good handful of kids books for a dollar each! I love their 'bargain' books. Picked up Frankie some khaki shorts, and headed home because Ollie was getting cranky. Later that evening, we had an impromptu cookout with the neighbors (Kyle and PJ). Some ribeyes, corn on the cob and fried taters were on the menu. To drink: only the most WONDERFUL drink in the whole entire world: Framboise (Fram-Bwaah). A raspberry Belgian beer that tastes nothing like beer, only goodness. Another thing to put on a to-do list: Drink Framboise. The night ended up with one hour of screaming from Olive, only to discover that she may possibly be teething. Oh geez....

Monday: nothing exciting, at least not that I remember.

Tuesday: our fish Achoo was found floating beside the filter. I'm not sure how Omz is going to take this, but we call her over to the toilet anyway. She sees Achoo in the potty and is confused. I explain that Achoo is sick, and he is going to the ocean with Nemo to get better. And the screaming ensues. Another traumatic experience with the potty... it's pretty much her nemesis. The only thing that calms her down is the promise of a replacement, which will probably not happen, because a goldfish tank is impossible to keep clean--they are listed as the 'dirtiest' fish, and no amount of cleaning/water replacement/filtration will keep this water clear! I think our cat and dog will be fine in keeping the pet department occupied for a loooong time now.

Alas, I have just written a novel. Time to reverse the carpal tunnel thats setting in...

Swamp Water

As a child growing up, I was never a fan of Kool-Aid. Just wasn't my thing. The amount of sugar was never right, leaving you with either not enough or a complete overload. It was not until I met Frankie that I gave Kool-Aid a second chance, and thus, my love of Swamp Water began. Basically, it is just a mixture of lemon-lime and orange Kool-Aids. It turns this disgusting green color that looks like a mix between well, swamp water/baby poo/babyfood/boogers. Despite it's appearance, it is most scrumptious and we made our first batch in a long time tonight. I couldn't believe when he poured out the required amount of sugar that it was ALL going in there. The displacement of water due to the obscene amount of granulation almost overflowed out of the jug. To mark this special occasion of the rebirth of swamp water, we drank it out of wine glasses. So refined we are. We also decided that we were going to freeze some in ice cube trays and call them.. Snot Pops. Omri will surely go 'Ew! Gross! Yuck! No ways!', but she'll cave in in due time.

I have alot of things I want to talk about, but I have home work that I should really do so I can watch the first new Grey's Anatomy in about a month!