COVENTRY, Rhode Island, August 12, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The actions of a CVS pharmacist, who refused to fill a prescription for the abortifacient morning-after pill, were described as “criminal” by Planned Parenthood, even though the pharmacy chain itself is defending the pharmacist’s actions as compliant with company policy.
“Our policy is to fill prescriptions for all customers in a timely manner and to make sure their needs are met and that they are satisfied,” said CVS vice president of corporate communications and community relations, Eileen Howard Dunn, according to a Providence Journal report. “As an employer, however, we must also accommodate a sincerely held religious conviction that may prevent a pharmacist from dispensing a certain prescription.”
Dunn explained that a woman, who drove up to the drive-through window of their CVS pharmacy at around 10 pm last Friday, was refused a prescription for the abortifacient morning-after pill from the pharmacist on duty because of the pharmacist’s religious beliefs. The pharmacist advised the woman she could return later, or drive to another 24-hour pharmacy to have the prescription filled there.
Planned Parenthood Rhode Island vice president of external affairs, Kathy Kushnir, described the actions of the pharmacist as “criminal.”
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