Posted on 11/12/2005 5:00:47 PM PST by wagglebee
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Target Corp. is defending its policy on filling prescriptions for emergency contraception after the Planned Parenthood Federation of America accused the retailer of disrespecting customers' reproductive rights.
Target allows pharmacists to choose not to fill requests for emergency contraception, also known as Plan B, if it is against their religious beliefs.
The issue has caused an ongoing debate nationwide between people who oppose abortion because of religious beliefs and those in favor of abortion rights.
Emergency contraception primarily delays ovulation long enough for sperm to die without fertilizing an egg. Those who oppose the drug say it could cause an abortion, but medical experts disagree.
Though other retailers have similar policies, Planned Parenthood officials say Target's policy is especially burdensome to customers. If one pharmacist refuses to dispense the drugs, the customer could have to travel to another store to get it.
It's an unnecessary inconvenience and embarrassment to the customer, said Jackie Payne, assistant director of government relations for the Planned Parenthood Federation in Washington. The timing is crucial for emergency contraception and could be a problem especially for women in rural areas, Payne said.
"Basically, they don't want to absorb the burden," she said of Target. "They would rather pass that on to the customer."
But Target defends its policy, pointing out that if the pharmacist refuses to dispense the drug, he or she must pass it on to another pharmacist at the same location. If none is available, the pharmacist must call another Target and make sure the drug is available for the customer.
"We are committed to getting these prescriptions filled," said Lena Michaud, spokeswoman for Target Stores. "But we also have to respect associates with strongly held religious beliefs."
In a company statement, Target officials added that their policy follows recommendations made by the American Pharmacists Association. It's a rare event that a pharmacist's beliefs conflict with a request for emergency contraception, officials said.
"Under no circumstances can the pharmacist prevent the prescription from being filled, make discourteous or judgmental remarks, or discuss his or her religious beliefs with the guest," Target's statement said.
Planned Parenthood officials say if Target allows pharmacists to refuse to fill a prescription, they should think about adopting other ways to satisfy the customer. For example, other retailers have the emergency contraception delivered if pharmacists at the store refuse to fill it.
"All I want (Target) to do is to offer a minimum standard that the customer gets what she needs," Payne said. "And they won't do that."
On Thursday, Planned Parenthood organized a protest in front of the Target on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Participants held signs and chanted, "In store without delay, Target fill my pills today."
It's routine for anyone who's raped to go to the ER, file a report with the police, and get a pelvic exam, an anti-ovulation pill, and counseling.
Or do you think a raped woman would just stroll over to Target?
“Or do you think a raped woman would just stroll over to Target?”
Get real. It’s a fact that not all raped women report the rape for various reasons including attitudes of those around them. They would and do seek what ever remedy they could access with relative anonymity.
And I wasn’t aware that Target had a pharmacy.
A woman who's been a victim of a serious crime of violence is afraid to go to the ER or the cops? If this is the case, she's living as a perpetual victim in a criminal milieu, and she's got a lot bigger problem than just possible pregnancy.
(Incidentally, pregnancy very rarely occurs from rape, for two reasons: (1) many rapes do not involve a completed act of vaginal intercourse, and (2) rape triggers intense fear and anger, both of which release adrenalin, and high blood adrenalin levels will block ovulation. So unless the woman happens to have ovulated 12-24 hours BEFORE the rape, pregnancy will not occur. CDC and Guttmacher surveys bear this out: only 1 - 2% of abortion-seeking women, for instance, even claim to have been raped. And even that's high, since these statistics are generated with no verification.)
Nevertheless, it is possible (though rare) for a rape pregnancy to occur. In any case, why would a traumatized woman desiring anonymity go to a Target and ask for Plan B? It' far more reasonable tothink she'd phone pharmacies until he finds one that carries it, ask them to bag it for her, and then come and pay for it with a minimum of hassle.
I dispute the idea that Plan B is primarily for rape. It's primarily for women that "buy into" impulsive sex, and the next morning are reacting to buyer's remorse.
Having followed this issue in the press for a couple of years ow, I've noticed that even Plan B "human interest" stories in the press focus, not on assault, but on procrastination.
True. But if they were, what a beautiful world it would be.
True. This is very serious business. A mortal sin, spiritual death. Jesus, save us.
Anyone old enough to get pregnant could make 4 or 5 phone calls in half an hour to find out who carried a drug they wanted. Sheesh.
First, if she was raped, she goes to the ER and they give her a pervic exam and dose of progesterone. NOBODY has a problem with that. (Not even the Catholic Church!)
Second, whoa! You're saying raped women are irresponsible parents? Or what? (Slaps forehead repeatedly.) I mean, even if the woman honestly feels she can't provide a good home for the baby, she can place that baby in the loving arms of somebody who CAN be a good parents. That's what adoption is all about.
" Which is better ... aborting them or burying them after they're abused to death."
So our choices now are (1)Killing the baby or (2) Killing the baby? I wish you had just a week to spend with a Prolife Pregnancy Center anywhere in the world, to get a more realistic, practical, and humane view of what the REAL options are.
I'm talking about options that allow both of them to go ahead and get on with their own lives --- options both the mother and the baby can live with.
Nothing wrong with that.
That would be true of some employers. It's probably, at present and in practice, the employer's choice.
So there ought to be signs up in pharmacies indicating whether it is or is not a place that practices ordinary medical ethics (e.g. the Hippocratic Oath.) I would patronize only the ones that said a life was worth more than a handful of money.
If I wanted to go back and reread the entire thread from a month ago, I would. As such, your statements make no sense. And I’m not going to take the time to go back now, especially since I despise people who take a thread a month later and preach to someone about something they think we know nothing about. Get a life and leave me alone.
I thought then, and I think now, that any physician who knows a girl or woman has been assaulted and does not report it, is complicit in ongoing abuse.
I’ve been FRiends with wagglebee for a couple of years now. I’ve never considered him judgemental. He is a very compassionate person that truly respects all life. If you stick around here long enough to read his posts or search past postings of his you will see the passion he has for protecting ALL life and moral values. Don’t be so quick to judge!
Adding the trauma of abortion to the trauma of rape or domestic violence is a lose-lose situation. And there are women out there that look at pregnancies as nothing more than an inconvenience they need to be rid of. I don’t know the stats and don’t have time to look them up but I know there is a large percentage of women that have had multiple abortions. Such a horrible trend!
????? I didn't say anything about a thread from a month ago. Did you send this to me by mistake?
I believe if you asked a member of Planned Parenthood, yes or no, whether it would be good if there were no abortions, the answer would be no.
posted on 11/12/2005 This is the date the thread was started.
I’ve had two posts made to me by you.
I haven’t been to Tarjay this holiday season. They’re owned by Daytons, aren’t they? Daytons likely has the same policy.
I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who will find any excuse to support abortion.
This whole issue of whether or not pharmacists can not dispense the morning after pill is incredible.
Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean it’s moral. There are bad, immoral laws, and laws legalizing abortion are an example of them.
I don’t blame anyone for objecting in becoming an accomplice in murder. I find it unconscionable that people would support laws requiring someone to participate in said murder. Those are as bad and immoral laws as the ones allowing abortion.
This is not simply a matter of religious preference, like not working on Sundays, or something. Murder is wrong, period.
Welcome to FR newb.
IBTZ!!!
What's a 2.5 children household? You mean two normal kids and one mongoloid? How nice of ya!
It's not a "right" if someone has to be compelled to act in order for another to exercise the so-called "right".
How about "Trinoskankatol"?
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