Target On Target

I support everyone's right to believe what they believe - no matter how stupid it is. But, that stupidity shouldn't have the power to forever impact someone else's life. This pharmacist can be a pro-life poster child but she wont be working at Target!

Pharmacist Heather Williams believes there’s no middle ground when it comes to the so-called “morning-after” pill known as Plan B.

Williams opposes use of that pill, or any other emergency contraception taken after unprotected sex, because they can prevent a fertilized human egg from implanting in the uterus. “For me, life begins with two cells,” Williams said Thursday.

As a part-time pharmacist at a Target store in St. Charles, Williams had refused to fill such prescriptions without incident for the past five years. But she also declined to refer physicians or patients to others who would fill
such prescriptions.

“I just can’t be a link in the chain at all,” she said.

As of Jan. 1, that stance cost Williams her job.

She and her lawyer, Ed Martin, filed a complaint this week against Target with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A lawsuit also is being considered.

Target declined to provide comment Thursday. But Williams emphasized that she was blaming Planned Parenthood — not Target — for her predicament. She cites Planned Parenthood’s heightened national campaign to persuade major pharmacy chains such as Target to agree to fill emergency contraception.

Paula Gianino, chief executive of Planned Parenthood for the St. Louis Region, lauds Target’s commitment to fill such prescriptions, and contends that Williams is at fault because of her refusal to refer patients or physicians elsewhere.

“She could refuse to fill the prescription, but she took it to the next level,” Gianino said. “Target has done everything possible to try to fill patients’ health-care needs and accomodate individual pharmacists.” "

I definitely prefer Target over Wal-mart (I won't step foot in Wal-mart) but I had been debating if I was going to have to drop Target from my list of stores too. I think their stance is an adequate compromise so when I finally get around to getting my new kitchen rugs, I'll check them out (I need a crock pot too).

(link via pandagon)