It seems as though the largest barrier for medical-aid-in-dying patients is finding a pharmacy willing to dispense the medication (“Medical aid in dying law takes effect,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 1).

Please don’t assume it’s always the pharmacist’s choice not to participate. I work as a pharmacist in a local retail chain, have been following the progression of this law, and want to participate. However, my chain’s administration has chosen not to participate, tying my hands.

Patients and family members already are expressing interest. Maybe we could quickly fund and staff a state-run pharmacy specifically for these patients, let it operate for a set period of time, and evaluate it. Possibly time, and a positive outcome from the “trial pharmacy,” will set our community pharmacies more at ease.

It’s not fair to our terminally ill patients who wish to take advantage of this law to pass it without being able to implement it.

Anne Wheelock

Nuuanu

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