The fears of Catholic pharmacists have been realized in Denton, Texas this week as a pharmacy chain disciplines an employee for refusing to fill a prescription for the abortifacient “morning-after pill.”
A young woman, who has not been identified, complained to the company when the pharmacist at an Eckerd pharmacy refused to fill a prescription for the drug on moral grounds.
Joan Gallagher, vice president of communications for Largo, Florida-based Eckerd Corp, said in a statement, “Apparently there was a request for a prescription to be filled and the prescription was denied based on a moral or ethical decision made by the pharmacist, and that's not in accordance with our corporate policy.”
Under Texas state law, a pharmacist may refuse to fill a prescription if he thinks the drug may harm the patient, but the state has no conscience protection.
About 40 protesters picketed the pharmacy, chanting slogans and holding signs.
The morning-after pill is a drug that works in some cases by preventing ovulation, but more frequently by making the uterine lining hostile to the already-existing embryo. The drug causes a very early-term abortion when the embryo is unable to implant and dies.
Organizations in Canada and the US are working to secure conscience protection for pharmacists and other health care workers who cannot in conscience carry out acts that end a human life. At the moment in Canada, a physician cannot be required to commit an abortion, but no legislation exists to protect pharmacists.
See the very comprehensive website of the Protection of Conscience Project, the Canadian organization working for conscience laws.
See AP article
(This update courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.)
