Pat Robertson attacks Walgreens over IL pharmacist suspensions

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

Walgreen's policy allows their pharmacists to pick 'n choose what drugs they dispense. But not in Illinois, where last April Gov. Rod Blajojevich issued an emergency rule mandating stores that dispense contraceptives to fill any prescription for birth control without delay. That includes emergency contraception, which is NOT an "abortion pill."

So when four IL Walgreen's pharmacists refused to dispense EC, Walgreen's (coincidentally headquartered in IL) put them on unpaid leave on November 28.

Now Walgreen's is in a damned-if-you-do-or-don't position thanks to the execrable Pat Robertson, whose "American Center for Law and Justice" has filed a religious discrimination complaint with the EEOC.

-snip-

"Since the pharmacists believe that human life begins at conception, they conclude that dispensing such drugs would require them to participate in the moral equivalent of abortion," the Washington-based group said in a statement.

(Emergency contraception doesn't even work if fertilization has already taken place. You would think a pharmacist would know that.)

"It is strictly stated in state law that pharmacists must fill prescriptions for emergency contraceptions," said Tiffani Bruce, a spokeswoman for Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen. "Anyone who takes issue with this law needs to address it with the state or the governor."

-snip-

Will the hounds of the Christian Right bring suit against the state of Illinois? Stay tuned...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512080189dec08,1,2773144.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

if that requires a subscription, find other versions on Google News:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://www.suntimes.com/output/business/cst-nws-walg08.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Get over it, Pat, and stop encouraging people to climb into my uterus

[im10ashus]

2. Pat who?

Just kidding. :-)

[WI_DEM]

3. if they can't fill a legal prescription then go into another line of work.

eom.

[MostlyLurks]

5. That's so crazy IT JUST MIGHT WORK!

Anybody else in America who refuses to do their job on moral grounds - hell, on ANY grounds - gets shitcanned post haste, but not pharmacists - somehow, they escape the noose.

Mostly

[tlsmith1963]

17. I Say That About the Schools, Too

If the fundies don't like the public schools, then all they have to do is send their kids to Christian schools. No one is stopping them. But *nooo*--they have to control everything. It's the fundies who hate America & everything it stands for, not us. They don't
want democracy & freedom. They want a dictatorship.

Tammy

[wtbymark]

4. If I didn't do my job I wouldn't be put on 'paid leave'

I'd be fired, nuff said, do your job or go away.

[Loonman]

6. Robertson can

Shove his whole fist up his ass and shut up.

[hobbit709]

7. Pat Robertson is a real contortionist

He must be since it takes major effort to put your foot in your mouth while you got your head up your ass.

[jackster]

8. does anyone know if there was a concerted

effort by the right to infiltrate (so to speak) the pharmacy career field? Seems like there are an awful lot of pharmacists all over the place lately who are refusing to fill birth control and/or emergency contraception prescriptions.

I just have a hard time believing that this is not an orchestrated effort.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

12. The Christian Right is infiltrating EVERYTHING

Chris Hedges, a brilliant reporter, was on Morning Sedition the other day talking about Ken Blackwell's bid for Ohio governor (which will probably succeed) and he revealed Blackwell's extreme right-wing Christian plans for that state, which bode true terror for the entire country. I'm gonna listen to the interview again so I can take notes and track the story. You can stream it here:

http://www.airamericaplace.com/archive.php?mode=show&id=3

A great article by Chris Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School - "The Christian Right and the Rise of American Fascism" :

htt://www.theocracywatch.org/chris_hedges_nov24_04.htm

[rd_kent]

9. I have trouble believing this is a problem.

I mean, are these guys serious? What is a pharmacist is one of the even loonier whackos who thinks ALL drugs are bad? Decide not to fill ANY precscriptions? Then sue for discrimination for not being allowed to object based on religious grounds? Wouldnt that be something? A guy who gets paid to go to work and tell people he wont fill thier prescrptions?

[Anakin Skywalker]

10. Pat Robberson Would Like

all condoms banned too if he had his way.

[walldude]

11. Hell if Tarkin.. I mean Robertson had his way

any non-Christian would be deported out of his wonderful "Christian Nation"... He's an ass..

[The Whiskey Priest]

13. Robertson is going to get his ass whipped

some of those pharmacist are mean.....especially just after they have been into the meds.....

[Initech]

14. Hey Pat, Pharmacists have to fill prescriptions. It's their JOB!

The pharmacists in IL got what they deserved.

[BJW]

15. more on scummy, money-grubbing ACLJ

here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x178273

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

16. Excellent

Recommended, and thanks for the link. :thumbsup: