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Alberta Pro-Life Pharmacist Reaches Conscience Agreement; Saskatchewan Pharmacists Have Protection Too

CALGARY, November 4, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Maria Bizecki, a Christian pharmacist in Alberta has, after legal proceedings, reached an agreement with her employer and the Alberta College of Pharmacists (ACP) that allows her to refuse to dispense abortifacient drugs and contraceptives which would be a violation of her morals.

The BC Catholic reports that pro-abortion groups called for complaints to be made about Bizecki's refusal to dispense abortifacient drugs. Complaints to her employer Calgary Co-op and the ACP resulted in her being suspended with pay for over a year and very substantial legal expenses which she is only now beginning to pay off.

According to her lawyer Gerald Chippeur, Bizecki's employer agreed that when asked for a product or service that a pharmacist finds morally objectionable, the pharmacist may step back and allow a colleague to provide the requested item.

In related news, the October edition of a pharmacists' journal Pharmacy Post reveals that the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists (SCP) has a conscience clause. The clause allows a pharmacist to object to providing a service "if it appears to conflict with the pharmacist's view of morality or religious belief, and if the pharmacist believes that his or her conscience will be harmed by providing the product or service." However, pro-life pharmacists note that most 'conscience' clauses continue to violate pharmacists conscience rights by making them ensure that the customer is provided the objectionable service.

The same article reports, as LifeSite reported September 3, that Saskatchewan pharmacists began dispensing abortifacient morning after pills to women without doctors prescriptions in September. The journal notes that by September 1, about 245 of the province's 360 pharmacies had declared their participation in the abortion service.

Incidentally, the webpage of the SCP provides a handy reference for which pharmacies are taking part in the abortion regime and which are not. See: http://www.saskpharmassoc.ca/docs/Emergency_Contraceptive_Program.pdf

To donate to Maria Bizecki's legal fund, donations must be marked "Pharmacists Fund" and made payable to Charitable Foundation of the Family, 9947 Warren Road SE, Calgary, AB T2J 1G8. Donations are tax deductible. Please indicate if a tax receipt is required.

See the BC Catholic for more on Bizecki's case:
http://bcc.rcav.org/03-11-03/index.htm

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