Walgreens fires Pharmacists who wouldnt dispense "morning after" pill

irishgrl · #1 01-29-2006, 06:49 PM

Pharmacists sue Walgreen over contraceptives

By Julie Ingwersen Sat Jan 28, 5:09 PM ET

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Four Illinois pharmacists have sued U.S. drugstore chain Walgreen Co., saying they were wrongly fired for refusing to dispense the "morning-after" emergency contraceptive pill.

The four are represented by the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative legal group founded by Christian evangelist Pat Robertson.

The suit, filed on Friday in Madison County, Illinois, charges that the company violated the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which allows health care providers to opt out of procedures they object to on moral grounds.

"It couldn't be any clearer," ACLJ attorney Francis Manion said in a statement. "In punishing these pharmacists for asserting a right protected by the Conscience Act, Walgreens broke the law."

The contraceptive prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, but opponents equate it to abortion.

Walgreen spokesman Michael Polzin said the four were not fired but placed on unpaid leave in November and offered jobs in other states.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich last April ordered pharmacists to make the morning-after pill, known as Plan B, available to customers "without delay." The ACLJ along with several pharmacists have challenged the measure.

Polzin said Walgreen had all of its Illinois pharmacists file an electronic, online statement saying they would follow Illinois pharmacy regulations including Plan B. The four pharmacists refused to agree by a set deadline, he said.

"We have to follow the law. We don't have a choice in this matter," Polzin said.

Walgreen's policy allows pharmacists to decline to fill a prescription if they have a moral objection. However, they must refer the prescription to another employee who can arrange to fill the order swiftly.

Polzin said the four pharmacists worked the overnight shift at 24-hour facilities, and as the only ones on duty, they could not have the prescriptions filled without delay, as state law requires.

He said Walgreen, which operates more than 5,000 stores, offered to transfer them to stores in Missouri or elsewhere where they would not be subject to Illinois law, and to keep them on the payroll while they applied for new state licenses.

"We would be able to put them in nearby stores to where they live now, just over the state line. They are all close to the border," Polzin said.

The Plan B pill is distributed by Barr Laboratories, a unit of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.

BombaySapphire3 · #2 01-29-2006, 07:04 PM

I don't feel they should have been fired but rather presented with the unwanted child to raise after refusing to dispense the medication.

irishgrl · #3 01-29-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

I don't feel they should have been fired but rather presented with the unwanted child to raise after refusing to dispense the medication.

now THERE'S an idea....I've often said that not ONE of the abortion clinic loudmouth protesters has ever stepped up and offered to foster the fetus they are fighting so hard to keep alive...seems only right to me

BombaySapphire3 · #4 01-29-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishgrl

now THERE'S an idea....I've often said that not ONE of the abortion clinic loudmouth protesters has ever stepped up and offered to foster the fetus they are fighting so hard to keep alive...seems only right to me

That has always been one of the mind boggling contradictions of pro -lifers and neo -cons .They are the first to protest and decry a woman's right to choose and are the very first to cut any aid to single mothers and underpriviledged children.Truly warped total lack of reasoning or any real morals.

foxyluva · #5 01-29-2006, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishgrl

now THERE'S an idea....I've often said that not ONE of the abortion clinic loudmouth protesters has ever stepped up and offered to foster the fetus they are fighting so hard to keep alive...seems only right to me

I have always thought that if it came into law that abortion was illegal, all the people that agree with the disagree with the current law should have a legal obligation to raise the child. Lets see how many of them step up

irishgrl · #6 01-29-2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

That has always been one of the mind boggling contradictions of pro -lifers and neo -cons .They are the first to protest and decry a woman's right to choose and are the very first to cut any aid to single mothers and underpriviledged children.Truly warped total lack of reasoning or any real morals.

I know this first hand, both from being an aid recipient, and from being an eligibility worker. Any cursory perusal of the headlines when it comes to budget cuts shows that the programs that take the biggest hits are the ones that help the poor, the minorities, the single moms....the students, the vets and the elderly. Precisely the programs that get the least amount of funding in the first place.

DavidMn · #7 01-30-2006, 10:57 AM

Well, they got what they deserved as far as I'm concerned.

stargazer99 · #8 01-30-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

That has always been one of the mind boggling contradictions of pro -lifers and neo -cons .They are the first to protest and decry a woman's right to choose and are the very first to cut any aid to single mothers and underpriviledged children.Truly warped total lack of reasoning or any real morals.

This is exactly how I feel. I can't stand the hypocrisy.

SuzeQuze · #9 01-30-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishgrl

I know this first hand, both from being an aid recipient, and from being an eligibility worker. Any cursory perusal of the headlines when it comes to budget cuts shows that the programs that take the biggest hits are the ones that help the poor, the minorities, the single moms....the students, the vets and the elderly. Precisely the programs that get the least amount of funding in the first place.

While the Pentagon is funded via over 50% of our tax dollars. Its disgusting.

gldstwmn · #10 01-30-2006, 12:25 PM

I think it's going to come down to these pharmacies having to ask the pharamicists before they hire them if they have any religious or moral objections to dispensing medication.

markolas · #11 01-30-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I think it's going to come down to these pharmacies having to ask the pharamicists before they hire them if they have any religious or moral objections to dispensing medication.

And they damn well should. These Christian wingnuts should be barred from having anything to do with medicine or healthcare, as far as I'm concerned. I damn sure don't want them involved in my medical care. Who the hell do these people think they are??

DavidMn · #12 01-30-2006, 12:45 PM

Where's Maureen McGovern when you need her......

SuzeQuze · #13 01-30-2006, 01:04 PM

Do you suppose any pharmacists have ever refused a Viagra prescription to an unmarried man?

gldstwmn · #14 01-30-2006, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Do you suppose any pharmacists have ever refused a Viagra prescription to an unmarried man?

Hell no.

JazmenFlowers · #15 01-30-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Do you suppose any pharmacists have ever refused a Viagra prescription to an unmarried man?

this reminds me of a joke on one of my favorite DVDs...Queens of Comedy

so Som'more says we are spending so much money on advancing plastic surgery and other things like Viagra that we are neglecting the important things like Alzheimer's. so, imagine it, in 50 years we're all gonna be walking around with big t*ts and big d*cks and don't remember what the f*ck to do wit 'em...