by Gretchen Borchelt, Senior Counsel
National Women’s Law Center
As we’ve reported before, pharmacists sued to stop Washington state pharmacy board rules that require pharmacies to ensure access to medication. Yesterday, a federal district court granted a preliminary injunction against the rules, saying that the rule will not apply to pharmacies and pharmacists who object to providing emergency contraception. Even though the rule applies to all medications, the court decided to single out only Plan B, the only emergency contraception pill currently on the market.
In other words, the court has left only customers who seek Plan B vulnerable to the whim of refusing pharmacists. For the time being, when a Washington woman wants Plan B, she may not be able to get it at her pharmacy, even if they have it in stock. The court said pharmacies and pharmacists must refer the patient, but we all know that referrals can pose a huge problem, especially for rural and low-income women.
The case is not over — it will go to trial. Hopefully a full trial will allow the court to see that these rules are necessary to protect the health and safety of all Washingtonians. A pharmacist’s personal beliefs should not be able to trump a patient’s needs, whether it’s for Plan B or any other medication.
Comments