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.
Oh, and one other thing - certanily, the Illinois state legislature needs to address this. But even that being the case, the individual pharmacists need to be prepared for the possibility of being forced to seek other employment.
Probably because it's those "religious right-wing kooks" involved and to some of these "progressive" Freepers, being against them is more important than noticing little things like the government forcing a private business to follow what they want or else. Haven't seen any of them complain about the government forcing Walgreens and all pharmacies in Illinois to dispense this abortion pill. Haven't seen any of them complain about this bit of government intrusion on private companies.
And I probably won't see it. Guess it's just too easy to take the usual pot-shots at the "religious right".
Find that passage and post it for us.
Some of them have worked for Walgreen's way before they knew this was coming.
Your personal physician has the freedom of conscience not to perform any procedure or dispense any medication, recommendation, or advice they deem violates their personal code of ethics. I would assume you would opt for a phycisician who might not prescribe to you a medication having nothing to do with reproduction he/she deems dangerous/less safe or recommends an operation you don't really need just to make a few extra bucks.
I find this hypocritical and a double standard.
Walgreens has a lot more political clout in Illinois than many customers combined and could have stood behind their employees while this has been going down for months. Instead they weigh in on following an unjust law and corporate profits. I hold both Walgreen's and Governor Rod Blagojevich culpable. This is just the tip of the iceberg of future medical ethical situations that will arise.
Yes, I can see how someone of your intelligence would think opining that a pharmacist should not work for a pharmacy (or work in a state) that did not allow them to follow their conscience would be "casting scorn."
Now go to the pharmacy yourself.
You're obviously late for your meds.
As I recall from an earlier article, Illinois law allows pharmacists to refuse to fill a prescription to which they have religious/moral objections. If true, a company does not have the right to force their employees to sell such products. Otherwise, of course, they would.
Until then what choice does Walgreens have except to take the actions that they took? I think the company is being very fair in offering to help the pharmacists become licensed in Missouri which doesn't have a similar law. They could have easily fired the four and washed their hands of them.
The point is, of course, that we as Chrisitans are directed to work within the law, clever latin mottos, notwithstanding.
Here, that would be for the pharmacists to quit; leave the state; or seek to change the law.
That sucks and is unfair, but that's the what the Word of God directs us to do. If you disagree with the express Word of God, or believe you know better, that's your business.
Abortifacients. Liars!
I don't know, I would hope you are correct. But generally speaking, employers are free to restrict such things of their employees.
Vote with feet and dollars, I say.
Freedom of contract.
And have to file a two-state tax return unless they relocate and have to get another state license? I would expect more compassion from you for these mostly presumed catholics who have paid a high price already to stand up for their beliefs and are caught in a vice. We are not talking aspirin, vioxx and viagra here, all of which can have adverse effects on some people BTW. We are talking about a killer drug.
I agree with the express Word of God.
I disagree with disingenuous, eisegetical misinterpretation of it.
"There are positions for pharmacists where this issue is unlikely to come up, as in certain hospital pharmacy jobs. "
Not so. Hospital pharmacists are often called upon to dispense the "morning after" or "Plan B" pills. They are routinely prescribed after rapes.
My compassion or lack of it doesn't fix the problem.
If the pharmacists want to work, they'll have to go to Missouri.
Or what if the person at Blockbuster wouldn't rent you a certain movie because they think it's immoral?
Or a cashier at Barnes & Noble wouldn't sell you a particular book because they didn't like the contents?
If employees, instead of the the company/store/corporation, are left to make these decisions it's a recipe for chaos.
Did the Christians martyrs who died rather than follow the state's command to worship the Emperor go to hell?
After all, they didn't submit to the state in all things.
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