[Pflienews] PharmFacts E-News Update: WA state Conscience Clause case moves along; trial set for October 2008

[PFLI PharmAid Center]

*PharmFacts E-News Update -- 8 May 2008 AD #2
WA state Conscience Clause case moves along; trial set for October 2008

*From a release by the plaintiff's counsel:

"In November, 2007 the federal court stopped the enforcement of new 
rules that would have forced pharmacies and pharmacists to dispense Plan 
B, a controversial drug that it's own manufacture agrees may destroy a 
human, fertilized egg [sic]. A fertilized egg contains all the DNA of 
its parents and many believe this is a form of chemical abortion.  
Regardless of one's views regarding abortion, most would agree that the 
state should not force individuals to violate their consciences and 
participate in taking what they believe to be human life.

 

"The court reviewed hundreds of studies, surveys, research, analyses and 
other materials considered by the state Board of Pharmacy prior to 
adopting the flawed new rules. The Board conducted a survey in the fall 
of 2006 of all Washington State pharmacies.  The survey revealed that 
nearly 80% carried Plan B and most of the remaining pharmacies would 
carry the drug if they had a customer demand. The Board was also 
informed that Plan B is available on the Internet, through 1-800 numbers 
and clinics and hospitals. The Board also noted that prior to starting 
the rule-making process, /no one had filed a single complaint against a 
pharmacy or pharmacist claiming that they were denied Plan B for any 
reason. /Not surprisingly, the Board approved a rule for final passage 
that protected the conscience rights of pharmacies and pharmacists 
apparently concluding that Plan B was widely available.

 

"Under extraordinary pressure from NARAL-Pro Choice and other special 
interest groups supporting abortion, Governor Gregoire instructed the 
Board to adopt a rule that required pharmacies and pharmacists to 
dispense Plan B.  The Board reversed course and adopted Governor 
Gregoire's rules which the federal court ruled are likely unconstitutional."

 

Update May 2008:  The opposition has sent an appeal to the Federal Ninth 
Circuit Court of Appeals and that hearing will be some time during the 
week of July 7th.  They are appealing in order to stop the injunction 
which is currently preventing the enforcement of the Board's new ruling 
pending the lawsuit (i.e. it is allowing pharmacists to follow their 
conscience without fear of reprisal from employers or the board of 
pharmacy).  The plaintiff's  lawsuit is tentatively scheduled for October.



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PFLI supports pharmacist rights of conscience NOT to be forced to 
dispense or counsel for chemicals which violate their sincerely held 
religious, moral or ethical beliefs.  For more info see:
http://www.pfli.org/main.php?pfli=conscienceclausefaq

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