Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200201-208 next last
To: NYer
One thing people seem to have missed in the discussion (I have not read the whole thread)...

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.

Governors don't make RULES. Congress (state or federal) makes LAWS.

181 posted on 12/03/2005 5:10:43 AM PST by weegee (Christmas - the holiday that dare not speak its name.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: syriacus

In most states, such as Texas (called "right to work states"), you can get fired or quit for these and any, or no, reason.

I have fired people because they pissed me off.


182 posted on 12/03/2005 7:31:45 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: rdb3

"Must everything be done in lockstep in order to be a "good" conservative?"

Worth repeating.


183 posted on 12/03/2005 8:55:55 AM PST by indcons (Don't question either my intelligence or my ability; I have none.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 167 | View Replies]

To: TKDietz

Appreciate your comments......thanks for reading that posting.


184 posted on 12/03/2005 8:58:47 AM PST by indcons (Don't question either my intelligence or my ability; I have none.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 179 | View Replies]

To: indcons
Worth repeating.

Thank you. I hope the answer to my question is, "Of course not!"


185 posted on 12/03/2005 9:13:24 AM PST by rdb3 (I have named my greatest pain, and it's name is Leftism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 183 | View Replies]

To: rdb3
If a pro-abortion governor issues an "emergency rule" forcing all pharmacists to dispense abortion drugs, and you, as Mikey stated, can't figure out whether that's

A) Right or
B) Wrong

It's plain and clear that something in the moral compass is screwed up, and by any objective measure the person is not espousing a conservative or pro-life position.

This has nothing to do with marching in lockstep. Even most of the posters on this thread who seem bent on attacking the pro-life pharmacists acknowledge that the "emergency rule" was obviously wrong and should be overturned.

186 posted on 12/03/2005 10:14:11 AM PST by JohnnyZ (Veterans' Day. Enough said.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 185 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

Well, Ms. Bourbon went to Goodpasture and got a pretty good education there. That's quite far from your house though.


187 posted on 12/03/2005 12:20:27 PM PST by bourbon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
"Go work for (or own) a pharmacy that shares your views."

That about sums it up.

How about you join a religion that shares yours.

188 posted on 12/03/2005 12:34:29 PM PST by Barnacle (Be not afraid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Barnacle

You got that right!


189 posted on 12/03/2005 12:35:48 PM PST by Petronski (Cyborg is the greatest blessing I have ever known.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 188 | View Replies]

To: bourbon

yep...i'd hate for her friends to all be crosstown

Goodpasture has sure expanded


190 posted on 12/03/2005 12:41:25 PM PST by wardaddy (Merry Christmas ya'll)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 187 | View Replies]

To: Phantom Lord
Do your religious rights override your duty to perform you job as required by your employer?

Adolf 'I was just following my employer's orders' Eichmann didn't think so, either.

191 posted on 12/03/2005 12:44:31 PM PST by Ronaldus Magnus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Comment #192 Removed by Moderator

To: knowledgeforfreedom

Of course not.

I'd be the arbiter of which ones I would risk.


193 posted on 12/03/2005 2:22:34 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 192 | View Replies]

To: caisson71

Amen and everybody here knows that is exactly what would happen!


194 posted on 12/03/2005 3:15:59 PM PST by red irish (Gods Children in the womb are to be loved too!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: BritExPatInFla

This is beginning to sound like if you don't receive the mark you will not be able to buy and sell. I mean seriously that is what it will come to. And they would not dare pull that on a muslim just ask the aclu.


195 posted on 12/03/2005 3:23:57 PM PST by red irish (Gods Children in the womb are to be loved too!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

You might have both girls with you?
Ohhhh! That is wonderful!
I know what a good daddy you are.
I hope it all works out, especially since you are pulling in your markers.
That just shows just what a GOOD daddy you are.

No...it's not like it was in MS in the early '70s.
Good schools are hard to get into, and very expensive.

I have friends whose children went to Choate.

You are in the perfect place for the musically inclined one.
It sounds like she's very smart, disciplined, and ambitious.

I wish both of your girls, and YOU, very well.

BTW, the girls coming to live with you will even out the gender factor in the wardaddy household.
I bet mrswardaddy will be happy to have the girls.
They can go shopping. ;o)


196 posted on 12/04/2005 12:03:54 AM PST by dixiechick2000 ("Virtute et armis" - By valor and arms)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies]

To: WKB

"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."


That is THE best, and THE most perfect example of,
not just 'Ratspeak...but of 'RatDO!

Thank you!


197 posted on 12/04/2005 12:12:06 AM PST by dixiechick2000 ("Virtute et armis" - By valor and arms)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 176 | View Replies]

To: Pepper777
Too bad you're not running the state of IL. :)

I grew up in Illinois. The Illinoisans that I still know are very down to earth. I hate to see my beloved state go down the tubes.

198 posted on 12/04/2005 9:53:48 AM PST by syriacus (There oughtta be a law -- that the image of every pill sold in the US is on one government website)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 171 | View Replies]

To: dixiechick2000

Thank You.

My wife is good with everything. The girls are really fond of her and they do of course enjoy shopping with her...big time.

It's reallt two tracks....my youngest needs structure and a path to good college placement..now.

The eldest needs help and support finding her way outside of school and getting a vehicle, apartment at some point, and working full time and then next year hopefully some schooling she might be particularly inclined towards....design or music biz

anyhow...the boys are pretty happy about it too

we have our fingers crossed

thanks


199 posted on 12/04/2005 10:08:09 AM PST by wardaddy (Merry Christmas ya'll)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 196 | View Replies]

To: bourbon

Mississippi leads the way.


200 posted on 12/04/2005 10:10:42 AM PST by syriacus (There oughtta be a law -- that the image of every pill sold in the US is on one government website)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200201-208 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson