Note: Here is a 21st-century question from a pharmacist…
Dear Rabbi Simon
Is it halachically a problem for me to dispense/deal with prescriptions for ‘transgender’ medication or medication for these operations? I’m seeing more and more prescriptions for this.
Thanks
Kemi
Hi Kemi
Thank you for your interesting and contemporary question.
This is allowed (even if it is distasteful) for a number of reasons, including the fact that a psychiatrist may have prescribed the medication for legitimate or even life-saving reasons. Perhaps the customer/patient seeks to moderate a hormonal imbalance rather than to effect an outright sex change. I recognise that these possibilities may be far-fetched, but the existence of doubt is sufficient to permit you to dispense the medication. Also, in halakhic terms although you are assisting, you are not enabling the use of the medication, as the patient/customer could and likely would get the drug from a colleague of yours, or even another pharmacy, if need be.
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon