ACLJ files EEOC complaint over disciplined Walgreen pharmacists

[Thom Little]

Walgreen Co. engaged in religious discrimination by "effectively firing" three Illinois pharmacists who refused to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception, a public-interest group alleged Wednesday in a filing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The American Center for Law and Justice, founded by evangelist Pat Robertson, said it filed the complaint with the EEOC on behalf of three pharmacists who were put on unpaid leave Nov. 28 because the drug store chain said they violated a state rule mandating that such prescriptions be filled.

"Since the pharmacists believe that human life begins at conception, they conclude that dispensing such drugs would require them to participate in the moral equivalent of abortion," the Washington-based group said in a statement.

.......

The Illinois rule - first imposed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in April and permanent since August - requires Illinois pharmacies that sell contraceptives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control. Pharmacies that do not fill prescriptions for any type of contraception are not required to follow the rule.

"It is strictly stated in state law that pharmacists must fill prescriptions for emergency contraceptions," said Tiffani Bruce, a spokeswoman for Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen. "Anyone who takes issue with this law needs to address it with the state or the governor."


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IL_BIRTH_CONTROL_PHARMACISTS_MOOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-07-23-47-12

[MercutioATC]

1. How about just realizing that employees are paid to do a job?

If you don't want to do the job, seek employment elsewhere.

State law aside, Walgreen's has every right (IMO) to demand that its pharmacists simply do their jobs (filling legal prescriptions).

[napi21]

2. I don't think old Pat's group has much of a chance on this one.

It's Ill law, and it's also PART OF THE JOB!!!!

Ya know, I didn't become a nurse because some of the things they have to do, I just didn't want to do! Why should someone wanting to be a pharmicist think the same? If there are parts of the job you just can't or won't do, then PICK ANOTHER PROFESSION!

[madrchsod]

3. what legal right does a pharmacist have in refusing

or rejecting a physician prescription? sounds like another fund raiser for patty`s group and i`m betting the eeoc is going to reject his suit.

they were not fired-they were put on leave so technically they still have a job. they have to be fired to file with the eeoc or the working conditions are so grievous they are forced to quit. from what i have read about employment law and the eeoc this case has no merit. after finally reading the article-yup this case ain`t going no where

[SomewhereOutThere424]

4. won't hold water

There has to be proof that they were doing their job for the EEOC to even touch it. If they were put on any kind of leave, even fired, for not doing their job, there's nothing that can be done. Being of any religion doesn't exempt you from having to work for money. I don't think we'll see any more of this...

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . .

Pat Robertson's brand of religious-this, religious-that law firm (5th paragraph) the so-called "American Center for Law and Justice" . . . what a joke, even the name of this law firm is a misnomer and a lie!


.

[0rganism]

6. Sierra Club files complaint over disciplined Weyrhauser loggers

(headlines from a parallel reality)

Weyrhauser Inc. engaged in religious discrimination by "effectively firing" three Oregon lumberjacks who refused to clearcut in the Coast Range, a public-interest group alleged Wednesday in a filing with the EEOC. The Sierra Club, founded by ecologist John Muir, said it filed the complaint with the EEOC on behalf of three loggers who were put on unpaid leave Nov. 28 because the pulp and paper corporation said they violated a state rule mandating that such timber sales be harvested.

"Since the loggers believe that the ultimate fate of the biosphere is linked inextricably to the health of the forests, they conclude that clearcutting old growth forests would require them to participate in the moral equivalent of mass genocide," the San Francisco-based group said in a statement.

....

The Oregon rule -- first imposed by Gov. Kevin Mannix in April and permanent since August -- requires Oregon state timber sales approved by the US Forestry Service to be completely logged within three weeks. Timber companies that do not log trees are not required to follow the rule.

"It is strictly stated in state law that loggers must clearcut every inch of a timber sale," said Bill Sizemore, a spokesman for Federal Way, WA.-based Weyerhauser. "Anyone who takes issue with the law needs to address it with the state or the governor."

:silly:

[anitar1]

7. Mannix is a Repug and Sizemore has done his best

to dismantle good laws here in Oregon, through the petition process. Mannix is making a run for govenor next year.They are both swine IMO.

[0rganism]

12. Mannix always runs for gov, except when Sizemore does

That's why they showed up on the alternate reality news feed, I'm guessing.

Sizemore has done more personally to ruin the state of Oregon than any other single person I could name offhand. Even Lon Mabon's bullshit pales in comparison.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Here's mine:

The Anywhere USA School District engaged in religious discrimination by firing three teachers who refused to teach children with blonde hair, a public interest group alleged in a filing with the EEOC.

"Since these teachers believe that children with blonde hair are stupid and have no hope for a future as successful independent adults and because they will most likely bring down test scores, the teachers are refusing to waste their valuable time working with these children", the group Teachers for a Brighter America, said today. The group also pointed to scientific research claiming that only brown haired kids will graduate from high school and go on to college.

[Ian David]

8. Would those pharmacists sell cigarettes to a pregnant woman? n/t

[grilled onions]

9. What About Customers Rights

Don't we have the right to have our rx's filled? We should not have to be forced to shop around to find a pharmacist that either agrees with our medical choices or one that won't allow their private politics to interfer with their job.

[Nomen Tuum]

10. ACLJ is NOT a "Public-Interest group"

It is a front that Pat Robertson and his puppet Jay Sekulow use to install a theocratic government.

[TaleWgnDg]

13. EXACTLY !! ACLJ is a Pat Robertson's front organization . . .

to install a theocratic government, i.e., Robertson's brand of religion. See, e.g., post #5 (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1973370&mesg_id=1973465) in this DU thread . . . the religious uber-rightwingnuts are finding "loopholes" in existing law or the feds haven't caught up w/ them as yet (or refuse to challenge them).

WTF's wrong with AP to report that ACLJ is a "public interest group"? AP is giving the connotation that ACLJ is objective and unbiased. It's not. Instead, ACLJ is a legal advocacy organization pushing Pat Robertson's view of (erroneous) law, period. Therefore, with ACLJ's pre-existing subjective motive, it is not unbias nor is it objective. How stupid can AP get? Wha? Does AP have an motive to be subjective and biased in its "news" "reporting?"

BTW, and welcome to Du, Nomen Tuum . . . great nickname/username too!

[TaleWgnDg]

15. Here's my email to AP . . .

From: TaleWgnDg@***.**
Date: 8 Dec 2005
To: [e-mail]
Subject: "Group files EEOC complaint over disciplined Walgreen pharmacists"

--------------------------------------

Sir/Madam:

In your AP article entitled "Group files EEOC complaint over disciplined Walgreen pharmacists," dated December 7, 2005, at 11:47 PM EST, by Jim Suhr, AP Business Writer . . .

"ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Walgreen Co. engaged in religious
discrimination by "effectively firing" three Illinois
pharmacists who refused to fill prescriptions for
emergency contraception, a public-interest group
alleged Wednesday in a filing with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission.

The American Center for Law and Justice, founded by
evangelist Pat Robertson, said it filed the complaint
with the EEOC on behalf of three pharmacists who were
put on unpaid leave Nov. 28 because the drug store
chain said they violated a state rule mandating that
such prescriptions be filled."
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IL_BIRTH_CONTROL_PHARMACISTS_MOOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-07-23-47-12
(as last visited, Thursday, December 8, 2005)

The "American Center for Law and Justice" (ACLJ) (a private law firm/private organization) is NOT a "public-interest group" as the ACLJ's press release alleges nor as your AP article alleges. Instead, ACLJ is a legal advocacy group with a pre-existing agenda as authored by its founder Pat Robertson. It is biased, prejudiced, and highly subjective. Everything that a "public interest group" is not! By AP reporting as such, AP also is biased, subjective, and prejudicial, as is its "business writer," Jim Suhr. Does Mr. Suhr have a subjective agenda? Or is Mr. Suhr merely w/o question transcribing ACLJ's press releases? In either instance, Mr. Suhr and AP should revise its reporting to comport with an unbiased, objective, and non-prejudicial view as is factual news journalism.

- TaleWgnDg

[BJW]

19. Expose on Scummy Sekulow

very detailed, disgusting...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x178273

[Orsino]

11. Refusing to fill a prescription is itself a prescription...

...and if these pharmacists want to practice medicine, let 'em go to medical school.

[pschoeb]

14. Actually they should be charged with a crime

Practising medicine without a licence, because that's what they were effectively doing.

[Miss Chybil]

17. Human sacrifice is against the law. Should its practice be allowed under

religious principles? I rest my case.

Wait, I have more case...

Polygamy is against the law in the United States. Should its practice be allowed under religious principles? Now, I rest my case.

[BJW]

18. Lots More on Scummy Money-Grubbing ACLJ

here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x178273