In a press release sent out today Americans United for Separation of Church and State announced it has asked a federal appeals court to find that pharmacies do not have the right to opt out of filling certain prescriptions on religious or moral grounds.
In a friend-of-the-court brief filed in a Washington state case, Americans United urged the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to allow state officials to enforce a rule that requires pharmacies to stock when locally demanded — and fill prescriptions for — the so-called “morning-after” pill, also known as Plan B.
“Religious freedom is for people, not corporations,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director in the press release. “Pharmacies are businesses, and they should not have the right to impose religion on anyone.”
The Stormans family owns Olympia-based Ralph’s Thriftway and has been arguing with the state Pharmacy Board since 2007 over enforcement of rules requiring medicines in demand locally to be dispensed. The Pharmacy Board had been investigating Ralph’s Thriftway for refusing to stock Plan B, but that investigation halted when the store owners filed a lawsuit.
