Walgreens Sued Over Emergency Contraception Policy

DEERFIELD, Ill. (January 31, 2006) - Lawsuits have been filed against Walgreen Co. here on behalf of four St. Louis-area pharmacists claiming they were wrongly fired for refusing to dispense emergency contraceptive or “morning after” pills, news reports said yesterday. The suits accuse Walgreens of violating the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which allows health care providers to opt out of procedures they object to on moral grounds. However, a Illinois state rule issued by Gov. Rod Blagojevich last year requires that pharmacies that sell federally approved contraceptives also fill prescriptions for emergency birth control. Walgreens spokesman Michael Polzin said the company needed to be sure that stores were in compliance with the new rule.


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