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Today the Supreme Court rejected an appeal of pharmacists who claimed dispensing emergency contraceptives, including Plan B, under Washington state’s regulations requiring pharmacies to provide lawfully prescribed drugs, would violate their religious beliefs. This means that last year’s Ninth Circuit Appeals Court decision in favor of the state—which ensured patients can get emergency contraception in a timely and safe manner—stands.
“A pharmacist’s personal religious beliefs must not be allowed to get between a patient and her doctor,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “The Supreme Court did the right thing by refusing to hear this case.”
No one’s access to health care should be blocked by someone else’s religious beliefs and Americans United has long been involved this fight. When religion is used as a justification to deny healthcare, it puts patients’ health and well-being in jeopardy. In Stormans v. Wiesman, Americans United filed two briefs during the case supporting women’s access to emergency contraception.
We are thrilled that the Supreme Court decided not to interfere with this law that protects women and access to critical healthcare.
Learn more about our work on healthcare cases here.