From SaveRoe
Imagine walking into a pharmacy with a prescription and being told by the pharmacist, "I won't fill it. It's my right not to fill it." It's outrageous to think this is possible, but this is exactly what happened to a 26-year-old woman who presented a
prescription for emergency contraception at a Target in Fenton, MO, on September 30.
Join Planned Parenthood in demanding that every woman's pills be filled -- now!
ETA: This is the response from Target:
Dear Target Guest,
Target is extremely disappointed that Planned Parenthood is spreading misleading information about an alleged incident at a Target pharmacy in Missouri and our policies on emergency contraception. The accounts being reported are inaccurate and exaggerated. Our policy is comparable to that of many other national retailers and the recommendations of the American Pharmacists Association.
Target consistently ensures that prescriptions for emergency contraception are filled. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we also are legally required to accommodate our team members’ sincerely held religious beliefs as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the unusual event that a Target pharmacist’s sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with filling a guest’s prescription for emergency contraception, Target policy requires our pharmacists to take responsibility for ensuring that the guest’s prescription is filled in a timely and respectful manner. If it is not done in this manner, disciplinary action will be taken.
Target abides by all state and local laws and, in the event that other laws conflict with our policy, we will follow the law.
We appreciate the opportunity to clarify our position and correct misinformation.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive Offices
posted by Stephanie at
6:43 PM
3 Comments:
Unfortunately this is nothing new. And it's not just EC, it's the pill too. This past year our govenor passed a law saying that a pharmacy must fill the perscription. It was made permanent a few months ago.
Oh, and the fact you still need a prescription for EC, despite all the overwhelming support from doctors that it be made available over the counter and all the tests that say it is safe to offer over the counter? Well, you can thank the FDA for that charming delay tactic.
By
BlogShy, at 9:15 PM
This just boggles me. No one in Canada would be so presumptuous, regardless of what their beliefs might be. Every time I see a reference to something like this I think it has to be a joke--it's positively Onion-esque.
And seriously, when these jokers did their degrees in pharmacy wtf did they think they'd be doing? Birth control has to be right up there at the top of the list of prescriptions most often dispensed (if it's not #1).
I assume pharmacists belong to a professional organization. Refusing to fill a (valid) prescription is professional misconduct and they should be disciplined. (I was going to say "IMO" but no. It's not my opinion. It's their job. Do it or get out.)
BTW: I also can't believe what a low profile this issue has. Aside from PP, who's talking about it? If this was happening in Canada it would be all over the news. People would be pissed. off. I'm sure any pharmacist who tried this would lose his/her job.
By
Theryn, at 11:11 AM
It's had a slightly higher profile in some places than others. Actually, there was an article in some woman's magazine that I read well over a year ago. In it, they also talked about how more doctors are refusing to prescribe BC for religious reasons.
By
BlogShy, at 8:11 PM
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