There has been a lot of talk on social media regarding the mistreatment of pharmacy workers. So few pharmacists get real breaks, with CVS pharmacists getting only a short time to enjoy their lunch. Now, a Rhode Island pharmacist is showing the reality of what most pharmacists deal with on a daily basis. In an anger-inducing video, he shows what happens when a Karen arrives at the pharmacy after closing. However, she still expects her prescription.
Dr. Ethan Melillo (@millennialrx) responds to a video of a Karen yelling at a pharmacy after it has closed. He says, “If you show up after hours to get a prescription, even if you called in advance, it does not mean the pharmacy will stay open for you.” The Karen sees the pharmacist inside the pharmacy, but the gate is closed for the day. It’s clear that she’s too late. Still, she expects them to open for her. The pharmacist tells her she’s too late and showed up 15 minutes after closing. She asks the pharmacist, “You wanna play games? I’ll play games with you.”
The pharmacist says to the woman through the closed gate, “Here’s a game. If you do not leave me alone, I will call the police.” He goes on to say, “I will also ban you from filling at the store” so she can no longer access her prescriptions at that particular pharmacy. They’re clearly just trying to protect themselves, but she isn’t having it.
Dr. Ethan tells his audience that a pharmacist doesn’t have to wait for you or serve you, even if you notified them you would be there 15 minutes after closing. The timeframe you have to get to the pharmacy is strict, and you need to plan around it, as you would with any other business. He says, “They are not obligated to stay open because most pharmacists are salaried and they’re not getting paid after their shift. I don’t know about you, but I don’t enjoy working for free.”
One commenter stated, “Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.” Another said, “Just because she called saying she was running late, doesn’t mean they’re keeping the pharmacy or store open just for you. They close at 5, it’s 5:12, they’re closed.”
