Pharmacists can’t claim religion to deny emergency contraception, appeals court rules

[trotsky]

Reason prevails over religion.

http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/24/pharmacists-cant-claim-religion-to-refuse-to-sell-emergency-contraception-appeals-court-rules/

SEATTLE (Reuters) – The state of Washington can require a pharmacy to deliver medicine even if the pharmacy’s owner has a religious objection, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday, the latest in a series of judgments on whether religious believers can opt out of providing services.

The ruling, from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, came in a case filed by pharmacists who objected to delivering emergency contraceptives. The 9th Circuit overturned a lower court that had said the rules were unconstitutional.

...

In Washington, the state permits a religiously objecting individual pharmacist to deny medicine, as long as another pharmacist working at the location provides timely delivery. The rules require a pharmacy to deliver all medicine, even if the owner objects.

A unanimous three-judge 9th Circuit panel on Thursday decided that the rules are constitutional because they rationally further the state’s interest in patient safety. Speed is particularly important considering the time-sensitive nature of emergency contraception, the court said.

Let's hope this can help lead to an overturn of the Hobby Lobby decision.

[drm604]

1. I don't see how this can lead to an overturning of Hobby Lobby.

I wish it could, but I don't see how. If this is fought all the way to SCOTUS they'll just rule the same way as before.

[Act_of_Reparation]

2. I'm not even sure that Hobby Lobby is relevant, to be honest.

I'm not a legal scholar, but Hobby Lobby is not a licensed medical provider. They can object to paying for certain procedures or medications, but they play no role in the dispensation thereof. Pharmacists are licensed by the state to provide a service. If, by their religious beliefs, they are unable to execute the duties expected of them by their contract with the state, then they may find themselves in a much more actionable position than Hobby Lobby.

[Faux pas]

3. Kick!!!