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To Whom I May Concern:
My name is Chris T. I'll be 63 on 10/14/23. I have been a long time patron of your Safeway Store Pharmacy, for roughly a decade. This is the store located on Pioneer Pkwy. E and "Q" street in Springfield, Oregon. I am a terminal patient, suffering from end-stage COPD/emphysema, and other less lethal conditions. Needless to say, my life is quite difficult, but I continue to try to be pleasant and courteous to all. And I certainly do not seek to make trouble for others. However, I feel forced to submit this complaint about Alberto S., who is the newest manager/pharmacist of that store's pharmacy. In all my life, I have never before had any trouble with a pharmacist. And I dearly wish that I didn't now, but this man, so it seems, has gone out of his way to demonstrate that he is a bigot! On one of my two latest visits to pick up a pair of prescriptions. (The actual incident was on 9/22/23) He was curt, and belligerent towards me, and REFUSED to provide me with one of my 2 medications. When questioned, his illegitimate excuse/reason was that the prescription was newly worded by my doctor, and thus that he decided that he would not provide it UNTIL the very day that I WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF IT! That is, unless (or until) he hears differently directly from my provider. Now please bear in mind that it is a version of a medication that I have been on for years, and have always, before this incident, been shown the courtesy and trust of getting it up to 2 days before my refill date. Every pharmacist I have ever dealt with there, (which is at least 5) has made it clear to me that this was perfectly fine, and allowed without concern or difficulty. But not this Alberto S.! It was obviously very important to him to heap more misery and difficulty upon me. And considering that he lied to me about my doctor having worded the prescription differently so that he would not fill it for me before the day that I was completely out of it. I was further convinced of his bigotry, and his singling me out to grieve me. Because I had it verified by my doctor's office that it was worded the same exact way that all of my previous prescriptions were worded! And it was my doctor who helped me conclude the pharmacist was treating me with/in dogmatism. The crux being that the medication was suboxone, which many pharmacists associate with drug addicts. However, my doctor has been prescribing a form of it for pain management for quite some time. I have no history of any kind related to drug abuse, or addiction! NOT OF ANY KIND. Your pharmacist's assumption, and pre-existing bias against addicts was made obvious. And he made it a point of by making me suffer for it! Do you realize the importance of taking these types of medications on a timely basis? I am confident that the pharmacist does! It messes me up if I do not. I would like for him to correct his dishonesty, his mistreatment, and misjudgement of me (and probably others). And return to showing me the same honesty, trust, and courtesy that I have always been able to count on from your pharmacists, before him. I genuinely appreciate your consideration, time, and attention to this very upsetting and painful matter.
Most Sincerely,
Chris T.
[protected]
475 Lindale Dr.
Springfield, Oregon 97477
I sent this very e-mail to your "ethics.compliance" address over two weeks ago, without ever receiving a response. I truly dislike injustice being ignored! Because of that I was prepairing to turn to social media, followed by the Oregon Board of Pharmacy. When an acquaintance of mine brought up this idea being tried before resorting to my others. My desired outcome: an opology, followed by the assurance that I could count on things returning to the way of courtesy and consideration like they were before. An example being that my next refill of the suboxone falls on Sunday 10/22/23. So I hope to expect to be picking it up on Friday the 20th, without issue or trouble. And especially considering that I did go the extra mile, per the pharmacist's own words, and had my doctor contact him with sound clarification of it being acceptable to her for me to pick up my medication a couple of days before I am completely out.
