some not-so-depressing news on the front line for reproductive rights...

[lagilman]

In Reversal, Wal-Mart Will Sell Contraceptive
By MICHAEL BARBARO
Published: March 4, 2006

Relenting to pressure from state government officials, Wal-Mart Stores said yesterday that it would begin carrying Plan B, an emergency contraception pill, in all of its United States pharmacies by the end of the month.

But in a move that rankled some women's groups, Wal-Mart said that it would allow pharmacists who object to filling a Plan B prescription to refer customers to another pharmacist and, in some cases, to another pharmacy....


Ron Chomiuk, vice president for Wal-Mart's pharmacy business, said in a statement yesterday that given the impending state action and the fact that Plan B was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, "we feel it is difficult to justify" not selling the drug.



Insert your own snark on their actual motivation. The full article can be found here

Comments

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, it couldn't have anything to do with the fact that Massachusetts just took them to court over it, and they wanted to avoid more states doing so, could it?

So glad I live in a blue state!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'll be encouraged the day they actually pass it out, since right now they've left the wriggle room of sending people to another pharmacy.

[(Anonymous)]

I like the fact Connecticut was going to blacklist Wal-Mart. Hit them in the pocketbook. That's what corporations understand.

Makes you wonder. If the only Wal-Mart pharmacist on duty objects to filling a Plan B prescription and the customer ends up pregnant as a result, would the customer have grounds for suing the pharmacist for child support or coverage of medical expenses? Might that hypothetical customer win a civil case based on ... loss of income, endangerment (health risk), etc.? If the customer died as a result of a dangerous pregnancy, would the pharmacist be liable for manslaughter (or whatever the correct term is) or at least malpractice?

-- Katherine

[merlinpole.livejournal.com]

There's an unjust legal precedent for "what happened if a customer ends up pregnant as a result" -- some years back a couple had a procedure done that was supposed to result in sterilization. The wife got pregnant anyway, by the husband, and sued the MD. The judge in the case declared that having a child was a blessed event and threw the case out or some such.

[(Anonymous)]

True. The MD should have been forced to return his fee, at the very least. =)

But if the argument presented is based on health risk or job loss (instead of unwanted child), I don't think the other side can claim that precedent.

-- Katherine