Darcy Burner Statement on Federal Injunction Regarding Pharmacists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NOVEMBER 10, 2007
Contact: Sandeep Kaushik, (425) 443-2564
Darcy Burner Statement on Federal Injunction Allowing Pharmacists in Washington State to Refuse Dispensing Medications to Women
Bellevue, WA (Nov. 10) – Democrat Darcy Burner, candidate in Washington State's 8th Congressional District, issued the following statement regarding a federal district court judge’s injunction, issued on Thursday, allowing pharmacists to withhold “morning after” birth control medication from women in Washington State based on individual moral or religious judgments:
“In issuing this injunction, I believe strongly that the court has made the wrong decision in this case. Medical decisions regarding a woman’s health should be between herself and her doctor – not politicians, the courts, or individual pharmacists determined to impose their own moral beliefs on others. Women in this country have a right to receive legitimate medications in a timely manner, including birth control medication. This decision denies them that, and should be reversed as soon as possible.
“The question of access to birth control is not a moral question. It is a medical one. And this is not a question of overriding an individual’s religious beliefs. We have freedom of religion in this country, and all people – including pharmacists – are free to believe what they want regarding moral questions. What they are not entitled to do is to impose those private beliefs on others, particularly when important medical and health issues are at stake and when time is of the essence in seeking effective medical treatment, as is the case with Plan B.
“This issue is a major area of disagreement between my opponent and me. Congressman Reichert has said point blank that he thinks pharmacists should be allowed to deny birth control to women. That puts him at odds with the vast majority of his constituents, both women and men. I stand with them and with Governor Gregoire, who has demonstrated true leadership on this important issue. They are right, and he – and this judge – is wrong.”
To view Congressman Reichert during a televised debate last year asserting his belief that pharmacists should be able to deny women birth control, click here.
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