Women Deserve Guaranteed Access to Birth Control
Activists Rally on Capitol Steps Against Renegade Anti-Birth Control Pharmacist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2004
Contact: Kelda Helen Roys
608-213-4502
Madison, WI – When a Menominee woman went to have her prescription for oral contraceptives filled, her pharmacist not only refused to dispense the medication, but refused to transfer her prescription to another pharmacist.
Her case has received international media attention, but women nationwide are finding their access to health care quietly restricted. From pharmacists who refuse to fill valid prescriptions for birth control, including oral contraceptives and emergency contraception, to doctors who refuse to discuss family planning with patients, women’s reproductive health is under attack.
Wisconsin health care providers, lawmakers, including Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts and Rep. Mark Miller, and concerned students and citizens rallied at the Capitol today to preserve patient rights and speak out against the denial of medication to women.
“When a pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription I have prescribed for my patient because of the pharmacist’s personal opposition to birth control, he inappropriately interferes in the doctor-patient relationship and jeopardizes my patient’s health,” said Dr. Julie Fagan, speaking at the rally. “This situation should scare everyone – health care professionals should not endanger patient safety for any reason, but least of all because of their personal ideology.”
The anti-birth control, anti-choice pharmacist Neil Noeson exemplifies a dangerous and disturbing trend among some health care professionals – disregarding patient health and their codes of professional ethics because of a personal opposition to certain health care.
Pharmacist Linda Willsey condemned such actions, citing principles of the American Pharmacist Association, which places responsibility for ensuring patient access to medication on the pharmacist who refuses to dispense it.
Birth control is basic health care for women – the vast majority of women of childbearing age use some form of contraceptive. Kelda Helen Roys, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, said, “If a pharmacist is opposed to filling certain prescriptions, he should not practice in a place where his ideology will compromise patient health and violate their legal rights.”
Many Wisconsin legislators are attempting to subvert long-standing ethical principles, and allow health care professionals to place personal ideology before patient health and safety. Assembly Bill 63, which would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill or transfer birth control prescriptions, came dangerously close to passage during the last session.
“Voters must demand that our elected officials stop interfering with our right to access birth control and measures that prevent unintended pregnancy,” Roys said. “We must elect more pro-family planning, pro-choice legislators to preserve our health care options.”
Noeson will soon go before an administrative law judge at the Department of Regulation and Licensing, to determine whether he will be fined, or have his license revoked or suspended.
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