Judge Rules Pharmacists May Withhold Emergency Contraception
A federal judge in Seattle suspended state rules requiring pharmacists to dispense “Plan B” emergency contraceptives, saying that the rules violated pharmacists’ freedom of religion by forcing them to choose between religious beliefs and their employment.
Under the court's order, pharmacists may now refuse to dispense the medication but are required to refer a patient to the “nearest” or a “nearby” place to obtain the drug. Women who seek emergency contraception must receive the medication quickly for them to be effective. State regulations had allowed pharmacists to opt out if a co-worker currently was willing to dispense the drug, and supporters of the law say "the rules were meant to keep pharmacists from imposing their personal religious or moral views upon patients by barring access to valid, legal prescriptions."
ACS released an issue brief in February by R. Alta Charo entitled "Health Care Provider Refusals to Treat, Prescribe, Refer or Inform: Professionalism and Conscience."
Under the court's order, pharmacists may now refuse to dispense the medication but are required to refer a patient to the “nearest” or a “nearby” place to obtain the drug. Women who seek emergency contraception must receive the medication quickly for them to be effective. State regulations had allowed pharmacists to opt out if a co-worker currently was willing to dispense the drug, and supporters of the law say "the rules were meant to keep pharmacists from imposing their personal religious or moral views upon patients by barring access to valid, legal prescriptions."
ACS released an issue brief in February by R. Alta Charo entitled "Health Care Provider Refusals to Treat, Prescribe, Refer or Inform: Professionalism and Conscience."
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