Planned Parenthood Denounces Retailer Target's Policy on Pharmacist Refusals To Fill Plan B Prescriptions, USA

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 16 Nov 2005 - 10:00 PDT

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Planned Parenthood Federation of America is protesting a policy by retailer Target that allows pharmacists at 1,150 of its more than 1,300 stores to send customers elsewhere to obtain the emergency contraceptive Plan B, which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, the... Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The policy allows pharmacists to refuse to dispense EC if it is against their religious beliefs but requires them to fill prescriptions for all other medications. Target spokesperson Lena Michaud said that if a pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription for EC, they are expected to see if another pharmacist in the store is available to fill it. If not, they are required to call a different pharmacy to confirm that it provides EC and has it in stock so that the customer can get her prescription filled. According to Target officials, incidents in which a pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription for EC seldom occur. Protesters on Thursday marched in front of a Target store in Minneapolis, chanting, "In store without delay, Target fill my pills today." However, some Target stores oblige pharmacists at "the other end of the spectrum," according to the Star Tribune A Target pharmacy in northeast Minneapolis, has an arrangement with the University of Minnesota Health Service that allows a student to request EC without having seen a physician. A pharmacist then calls a doctor at the university health center who provides a prescription over the phone for the drug. Jackie Payne, assistant director of government relations for PPFA, said other retailers, such as Kmart and Costco, require pharmacists to fill prescriptions in the store or fill the prescription at another store and deliver it to the customer. Some retailers, such as Wal-Mart, do not carry EC, although the company cites a lack of demand as its reason for not keeping the drug in stock (Marcotty, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 11/11).

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

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