[drjimmy]

That just isn't true. A state license doesn't force you to do anything. It permits you to practice within set guidelines, that's all. If you choose not to practice all the aspects of what you are licensed to do, that isn't illegal.

Read the article. The refusal to dispense the prescription was a violation of a rule approved by the state's governor and legislature under the Pharmacy Practice Act. The "set guidelines" under which pharmacies must practice include the rule "requiring pharmacies that sell contraceptives to fill prescriptions for the morning-after pill." Anyone who doesn't like it is welcome to challenge it in court and vote for lawmakers who support their position, but for now it's the law.

Your questions about abortions and hair coloring are red herrings. Of course the state could pass a law saying all doctors it licenses must perform abortions and all hairdressers it licenses must color hair. You would be welcome to challenge that in court and vote for lawmakers who support your position on that as well.

By the way, the way the pharmacists handled these prescriptions is in fact a violation of Walgreen's own corporate policies, so the pharmacists responsible could well be fired by this "private business."

[Amalie]

Your point is well-taken, and my feeling is that even a conservative court ruling would come down of the side of the law enacted by the state. These are issues that the states should have control over until a Constitutional amendment one way or the other is passed. This is the prime reason why Roe vs. Wade is the most horrible piece of judicial law with the weak possible exception of Dred Scot.

[FarmerW]

The state law, unless the changed it recently, does not force any pharmacist to sell contraceptives as part of their license. It does force them to certain aspects of care if they choose to do so.

The pharmacist in question sound like they did break company policy. If they did, let the company deal with them as per the company policy. I really have no problem with companies setting and enforcing their own policies.