ACLJ Files Lawsuit Against Illinois Governor Charging Order Requir'g Pharms. to Dispense Meds

American Center for Law & Justice ^ | April 13, 2005

[whereasandsoforth]

Actually, a bookstore clerk can refuse to sell a book that he or she feels is inappropriate. He may not last long on the job, but he can refuse.

Private businesses are just that, and its up to the consumer to find a merchant compatible with their needs. The public doesn't have a "right' to a damn thing, except not to be discriminated against because of their race. But even that is a criminal offense per se, and would be punishable by a private lawsuit.

[muawiyah]

The claim is that existing Illinois law says you don't have to do things that violate your religion. Ergo, BSovitch's executive order is just so much wind, unenforceable, and contrary to sound public policy.

You might give up your job with a snit fit, but not everybody does that. Some stand and fight.

[Borges]

When your religious customs contradict the core of what your job is...giving prescribed drugs to people then it seems to be a different issue. Unless they made that concern known before accepting the job and were hired with that exception in mind.

[muawiyah]

No, in Illinois people take the jobs with the understanding that existing law protects them. BSOvitch, the Governor, is trying to evade the law. He is a criminal who should be impeached, prosecuted, and tossed aside like so much garbage.

[supercat]

A very good point here. Nurses and doctors do not have to participate in a procedure that violates their personal religious convictions such as abortion.

So a doctor could get a job in an abortion mill and then refuse to perform abortions, without risk of getting fired?

[supercat]

No, in Illinois people take the jobs with the understanding that existing law protects them.

Given that Illinois is a hire-at-will state, I can't really quite understand such expectation. Are you suggesting that if a pharmacist was worried about being fired for some reason, all he'd have to do would be to refuse to fill these precriptions and then he'd be fire-proof?

[muawiyah]

Sounds like that's the claim in the lawsuit.

"At Will" does not mean you can violate the law.

[Daisy4]

So a doctor could get a job in an abortion mill and then refuse to perform abortions, without risk of getting fired?

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A good doctor wouldn't take a job in an abortion mill to begin with because he/she is in the profession to save lives, not take them, but to answer your question, doctors can pick and choose their patients, and the same with nurses.

[supercat]

A good doctor wouldn't take a job in an abortion mill to begin with because he/she is in the profession to save lives, not take them, but to answer your question, doctors can pick and choose their patients, and the same with nurses.

If a doctor were to take such a job, and then refuse to perform any abortions, would the facility not have the right to fire him? If it didn't, that would seem an easy way to shut down abortion mills.

[Daisy4]

If a doctor were to take such a job, and then refuse to perform any abortions, would the facility not have the right to fire him? If it didn't, that would seem an easy way to shut down abortion mills.

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It would go before the medical ethics committee at the hospital, and the doctor would win. Trust me.

[Borges]

If the hospital were looking for a doctor to perform abortions they would tell him that at the interview and he would be hired on those conditions.

[Daisy4]

If the hospital were looking for a doctor to perform abortions they would tell him that at the interview and he would be hired on those conditions.

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The majority of your OB/GYN M.D's are not in the business to do abortions at will, unless the mother's life is at risk. In response to your question, if a hospital is looking for a M.D. to do abortions, the candidate will not necessarily be told that in an interview, because OB/GYN M'D' do many types of surgeries. Usually, the hospital looks at the candidates qualifications to perform OB/GYN surgeries. A doctor can refuse to do an abortion, and a nurse can refuse to participate in it. The hospital will just get a willing doctor to do the abortion, if an ethical one refuses. That's why hospitals have medical/ethics committess and some hospitals will not even allow abortions to be done at their facility, unless the mother's life is at risk.

[dbehsman]

"So get another job."

I got a better idea, why don't you go back to your original forum (like D.U.).