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Walgreen Disciplines 4 Pharmacists (Religious Rights Alert!)
CBS ^ | November 30, 2005

Posted on 12/02/2005 8:56:52 AM PST by NYer

(AP) Walgreen Co., the nation's largest drugstore chain by revenue, said it has put four Illinois pharmacists in the St. Louis area on unpaid leave for refusing to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception in violation of a state rule.

The four cited religious or moral objections to filling prescriptions for the morning-after pill and "have said they would like to maintain their right to refuse to dispense, and in Illinois that is not an option," Walgreen spokeswoman Tiffani Bruce said.

A rule imposed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in April requires Illinois pharmacies that sell contraceptives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control. Pharmacies that do not fill prescriptions for any type of contraception are not required to follow the rule.

Ed Martin, an attorney for the pharmacists, on Tuesday called the discipline "pretty disturbing" and said they would consider legal action if Walgreen doesn't reconsider.

At least six other pharmacists have sued over the rule, claiming it forces them to violate their religious beliefs. Many of those lawsuits were filed by Americans United for Life, the Chicago public interest law firm with which Martin is affiliated.

The licenses of both a pharmacy and that store's chief pharmacist could be revoked if they don't comply with the Illinois rule, Bruce said.

Walgreen, based in Deerfield, Ill., put the four on leave Monday, Bruce said. She would not identify them. They will remain on unpaid leave "until they either decide to abide by Illinois law or relocate to another state" without such a rule or law.

For example, she said, the company would be willing to help them get licensed in Missouri and they could work for Walgreen there.

Walgreen policy says pharmacists can refuse to fill prescriptions to which they are morally opposed, except where state law prohibits, but they must take steps to have the prescription filled by another pharmacist or store, Bruce said.

Bruce said Wednesday the four pharmacists were the first Walgreen had disciplined under the state's rule. Walgreen has 488 stores in Illinois, out of about 5,000 nationwide, with generally three to five pharmacists employed at each one.

It was not clear whether other large pharmacy chains had taken similar action.

Jean Coutu Group Inc., which owns more than 1,900 Eckerd and Brooks stores, requires its pharmacists to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception, spokeswoman Helene Bisson said. But she wouldn't say if Jean Coutu has taken action similar to Walgreen.

CVS Corp., the nation's largest retail pharmacy as measured by number of stores, did not immediately return calls.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: abortion; conscienceclause; cvs; eckerd; heroes; martyrs; mississippi; pharmacists; pharmacy; walgreen; wodlist
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To: syriacus
Why are the pharmacists being singled out for extraordinary punishment?

Why were abortion protestors singled out with extraordinary limits on their rights to free speech?

Because of NARAL, NOW, and other special interest groups.

161 posted on 12/02/2005 6:32:27 PM PST by syriacus (There oughtta be a law -- that the image of every pill sold in the US is on one government website)
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To: NYer; GatorGirl; maryz; afraidfortherepublic; Antoninus; Aquinasfan; livius; goldenstategirl; ...

+


162 posted on 12/02/2005 6:33:09 PM PST by narses (St Thomas says “lex injusta non obligat”)
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To: wideawake

I had to scroll down to your post before I found the obvious point that everyone else seems to have missed.

Pharmacists are health care workers. Even if they don't take the Hippocratic Oath, they are obliged to use their best judgment for the good of their customers. If they think that a drug is dangerous, they have a duty to say so.

A pharmacist is not just a flunky or a clerk. I wouldn't want to deal with a pharmacy where I felt I couldn't trust the pharmacists, because someone was standing behind them with what John Milton calls "an overseeing fist," forcing them to act against their better judgment.

I wouldn't quit a pharmacy because the pharmacist warned me that a drug was dangerous. I would be glad that he gave me is informed opinion.


163 posted on 12/02/2005 6:39:49 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: All
Kind of chilling parallel; Zyklon B & Plan B.

"In short, this industry used very powerful gases to exterminate rodents and insects in enclosed spaces; that it should now have become involved in an operation to kill off Jews by the hundreds of thousands is not mere accident." (Hilberg, Commandant, 567)"

Auschwitz FAQ

"In short, this industry used very powerful chemicals to exterminate humans in enclosed spaces; that it should now have become involved in an operation to kill off fruit of the womb deemed unworthy of life by the hundreds of thousands is not mere accident" (Fill in the cite).

164 posted on 12/02/2005 6:52:40 PM PST by Aliska
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Comment #165 Removed by Moderator

To: bourbon; WKB; wardaddy

"What Walgreens did to these employees is illegal in Mississippi."


Thank YOU for that info!
My daughter has been struggling with this subject.

Oh! I think I see an opportunity here!
I think I will make sure she knows MS laws concerning this.
It might just be the answer to her problem.

Maybe she will want to work there after she graduates. ;o)

Now...how will I get my Oregonian son-in-law to agree to this?

Hmmmmm...
He does like boats.

lol


166 posted on 12/02/2005 9:45:42 PM PST by dixiechick2000 ("Virtute et armis" - By valor and arms)
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To: mhking; JohnnyZ
Well, JohnnyZ, I proudly state that I'm in no way a "conservative." I don't engage in identity politics.

Besides, why blast Mike because he doesn't agree with you on this one issue? I don't find much intellectual autonomy within the conservative camp. But dog gone! Must everything be done in lockstep in order to be a "good" conservative?


167 posted on 12/02/2005 9:51:04 PM PST by rdb3 (In my brain, I have a capitalist migraine.)
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To: wardaddy; WKB; bourbon

"they don't even think affirmative action is discriminatory"


LOL!
It's not odd, at all.
I call it "Ratspeak". ;o)

They say they support the troops.
But they are against the war in Iraq.

What they don't get is that, in order to support
the troops, they must support the troops' mission.

I wish you all the best in finding your "little" girl
the very best school possible.

Hopefully one with which you are comfortable...


168 posted on 12/02/2005 10:00:48 PM PST by dixiechick2000 ("Virtute et armis" - By valor and arms)
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To: dixiechick2000; bourbon

appreciate that...it's not easy mid junior year....fortunately she has a mid 90s GPA which helps

all came on sort of sudden....sure hope she doesn't flake out on me...i'm pulling in all my markers

it's not like it was back when you and i were in Miss early 70s

now it's like getting into Choate or Exeter...almost as pricey too

my older daughter is coming to work first...she graduated HS early....she is interested in music biz of which we are ground zero for that and have good college programs just for it....right now she is a Diesel store manager so she may stick with something like that....my arty one she is.

gonna be using those formerly vacant guest rooms and fixing up the old Jeep Cherokee





169 posted on 12/02/2005 10:36:38 PM PST by wardaddy (Merry Christmas ya'll)
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To: syriacus
"Are all obstetricians in Illinois required to perform abortions?"

Hopefully not, Syriacus! However, with the recent trend of the state/government telling private business what they MUST sell, it could happen in the future. I thought conservatives objected to government's intrusion into private business decisions. Obviously that's not the case.

I hope the pharmacists sue the state. They should not be forced to change jobs because the state decides to butt into private business decisions. I wonder if doctors will be forced to drug children with antidepressants in the near future, even though Britain has outlawed prescribing them to children due to dangerous side effects.
170 posted on 12/03/2005 1:03:49 AM PST by Pepper777
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To: syriacus

"Sounds like fascism."

Yes, it does. Your posts are very sensible. Too bad you're not running the state of IL. :)


171 posted on 12/03/2005 1:12:39 AM PST by Pepper777
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To: JohnnyZ

"That's what laws are, legislated morals (or lack thereof). The frequently-stated opposition to "legislating morals" is a preposterous anti-morality catchphrase used to attack conservatives as Bible-thumping theocrats. The correct view is that laws should reflect good morals, rather than being immoral or amoral."

Excellent post and very well stated~~!!!!


172 posted on 12/03/2005 1:16:50 AM PST by Pepper777
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To: Steve_Seattle

"The real problem in the Walgreen's case is that the governor is telling Walgreen's what they have to sell; that is what I object to. When the government issues a blanket edict like that, it takes away all options for the pharmacists with moral objections to the abortion pill. It literally costs them their livelihood."

I object to the intrusion of the state also. The law also takes away the right of Walgreens or other drug stores to decide if they want to take the risk of selling a product that may result in a lawsuit.

From what I've read the product may have severe side effects. Walgreens should be allowed to decide if they want to carry a risky product or not.


173 posted on 12/03/2005 1:24:28 AM PST by Pepper777
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To: NYer

I think some pharmacists are taking their role a little too seriously. Unless a customer ~wants~ the professional assistance of a pharmacist, their job is to be careful and conscientious clerks, not to inject themselves in either the moral or medical decision that belongs to the patient and doctor. Just my opinion.


174 posted on 12/03/2005 1:35:02 AM PST by LK44-40
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To: MeanWestTexan

Boy, I totally agree with your statement.

But I argued this the other night and got kicked from one end to the next.

If I own the store and say "sell the item" and the employee refuses ... then I feel I have the right ot fire them.


175 posted on 12/03/2005 1:44:20 AM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: dixiechick2000; bourbon; wardaddy
"they don't even think affirmative action is discriminatory"

"They say they support the troops.
But they are against the war in Iraq. "





When someone can do all they can to make sure an
innocent unborn child is killed
and
at the same time do all they can to make sure
the likes of Ernest Lee Hargon stays alive,
you know there is a problem.
176 posted on 12/03/2005 2:31:07 AM PST by WKB (If you can't dazzle them with brilliance.. then Baffle them with BS)
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To: knowledgeforfreedom

In this litigious society, I'd want written guarantees from the judicial system that no case could go forward based on my dispensing products that have side effects that lead to death. In the case of WalGreen's employee pharmacists, I'd want written guarantees from the company that they had received such written guarantees.

If they would not give such guarantees, I would be selective about which products I'd dispense and which I would not dispense.

After all, MacDonald's (and others) is being sued over the "healthiness" of their food.

Therefore, every vendor must


177 posted on 12/03/2005 3:01:48 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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To: JamesP81

Why? It sounds like they don't have much choice in the matter in Illinois.


178 posted on 12/03/2005 3:47:42 AM PST by TKDietz
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To: indcons
"It is interesting to see how some perpetually-offended FReepers use double standards when it comes to certain issues."

How offensive of you. I cracked up when I read "perpetually-offended." That's perfect. God bless everybody here but there really are some people on these forums who could be described as "perpetually offended." I've noticed that for a long time but never had quite such a perfect way to describe people like that.
179 posted on 12/03/2005 3:56:31 AM PST by TKDietz
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To: TKDietz
That's perfect. God bless everybody here but there really are some people on these forums who could be described as "perpetually offended." I've noticed that for a long time but never had quite such a perfect way to describe people like that

Yeah, it's noticeable like a red neon sign at night. It can't be denied.


180 posted on 12/03/2005 4:16:37 AM PST by rdb3 (In my brain, I have a capitalist migraine.)
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