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Refusals at the Pharmacy
Each year, millions of women purchase birth control at their local pharmacies. News reports increasingly include stories about pharmacists or pharmacies refusing to sell contraception based on a religious objection. In Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy, the ACLU offers a roadmap for protecting women’s health care needs and individual religious liberty. Find out what you can do if faced with a refusal at the pharmacy.
NEWS & BLOG POSTINGS
> Court Says WI Pharmacist Was Rightly Disciplined (3/25/2008)
> BLOG: Defending WA Pharmacy Regs (8/15/2007)
> BLOG: Refusals at the Pharmacy (4/18/2007)
> NY Pharmacist Should Be Disciplined (4/5/2007)
> ACLU Applauds New Wal-Mart Policy (4/4/2007)

Back Up Your Birth Control
Emergency contraception (EC, also known as “the morning-after pill”) is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Despite recent actions increasing access to EC, barriers remain. Read more.
NEWS & OPINION
> EC Age Restriction Misguided (8/24/2006)
> TomPaine: Twice Victimized (1/26/2006)
> Ensure Access to EC for Rape Victims (1/19/2006)
FACT SHEETS & REPORTS
> Ensuring Access to EC After Rape
> Preventing Pregnancy after Rape

Wisconsin Court Upholds Discipline of Pharmacist Who Refused to Refill Birth Control Pill Prescription (03/25/2008)
MADISON - The American Civil Liberties Union said today's decision by a Wisconsin court allowing the state's discipline of a pharmacist who refused to refill a prescription for birth control pills strikes an important balance between religious liberty and women's health.

NYCLU Prompts Duane Reade to Correct Mistakes and Ensure Lawful Sale of Emergency Contraception (12/03/2007)
NEW YORK – The New York Civil Liberties Union provided Duane Reade pharmacies a refresher course on state and federal privacy laws after a customer at a Brooklyn store was illegally instructed to record her personal information before she could purchase over-the-counter emergency contraception known as Plan B.

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review of New York Law Requiring Insurers to Cover Contraceptives (10/01/2007)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court today turned down a request by Catholic Charities of New York to review a state court decision requiring insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage in drug benefit packages. The Court's refusal to hear the case leaves in place a law that promotes women's health and addresses gender discrimination while appropriately protecting religious freedom.

ACLU of Washington Seeks to Join Lawsuit to Defend Access to Medicines (08/14/2007)
OLYMPIA, WA – Patients, physicians and concerned women from across Washington state today announced they are seeking to join the state of Washington in a lawsuit defending new rules that require pharmacies to fill valid prescriptions and provide medications without discrimination or delay. The coalition’s goal is to protect everyone’s right to have access to medicines, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington.

Gloversville Pharmacist Should Be Disciplined for Refusing to Honor Prescriptions for EC Refills, NYCLU and Planned Parenthood Charge (04/05/2007)
NEW YORK - In a complaint filed on behalf of a health care provider at Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson, the New York Civil Liberties Union today charged that a Rite Aid pharmacist who refused to fill a patient's prescription for refill doses of Emergency Contraception ("EC") should be disciplined by the New York State Board of Pharmacy for putting moralistic judgments before her professional responsibilities. This is the second complaint filed against the Rite Aid pharmacist.

Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy Evaluation (04/30/2007)

Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy Order Form (04/30/2007)

Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy: Frequently Asked Questions (04/30/2007)

Victories on the Coasts: Courts Uphold Balance Between Reproductive Rights and Religious Freedom (04/18/2007)

Preventing Pregnancy after Rape: Emergency Care Facilities Put Women at Risk (12/15/2004)

Brief for Amici Curiae New York Civil Liberties Union and American Civil Liberties Union in Support of Respondent Serio (01/12/2006)
Amici urge the Court to affirm the lower court's holding that the Women's Health and Wellness Act does not violate the United States or New York constitutions. The Act is a comprehensive antidiscrimination and public health statute that requires insurance plans to cover women's preventive health needs equitably. Among its other requirements, which include mandating coverage for mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and osteoporosis tests, WHWA requires insurance plans that include prescription drug benefits to cover contraceptive drugs and devices.

Sample Documents Used by DOJ to Draft National Protocol for Treating Sexual Assault Victims (12/20/2005)

National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations FOIA (08/30/2005)

ACLU Amicus Brief in Catholic Charities of Sacramento v. The Superior Court of Sacramento County (03/01/2004)

ACLU Amicus brief in Catholic Charities of Albany v. Serio (08/21/2003)

Emergency Contraception Education Act Coalition Letter (09/07/2007)

On the 34th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade: New Year, New Congress, New Possibilities (01/22/2007)

ACLU Letter Regarding the Appointment of Dr. Keroack to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (11/22/2006)

ACLU Letter Thanking Senators Reid, Clinton, Murray and Menendez For Their Support of State Contraceptive Equity Laws (05/15/2006)

ACLU Letter to the Department of Defense Supporting the Michaud/Ryan Amendment (05/10/2006)
Letter to the Department of Defense supporting the Michaud/Ryan Amendment to ensure that emergency contraception is available by prescription at all military health facilities.

Refusals at the Pharmacy: What You Can Do if Faced with a Refusal at the Pharmacy (04/17/2007)

Model Protocol Letter (01/19/2006)

Letter to Jana White (01/06/2005)

Preventing Pregnancy after Rape: Evaluation and Order Form (12/15/2004)

Promoting Access to Contraception and Opposing Threats to its Availability at Home and Abroad (07/01/1998)
Guaranteeing Access to Contraception

What the Research Shows: Helping Teens Make Healthy and Responsible Decisions about Sex (08/17/2007)

Ensuring Access to Emergency Contraception After Rape (02/13/2007)
Guaranteeing Access to Contraception

Preventing Teenagers from Getting Contraceptives Unless They Tell a Parent Puts Teens at Risk (07/18/2003)
Promoting Reproductive Freedom for Teenagers

School-Based Condom Availability Programs (04/01/1998)
Promoting Reproductive Freedom for Teenagers