Prescription Contraceptives and the Pharmacist's Right to Refuse: Examining the Efficacy of Conscience Laws

Authors

Dennis Rambaud, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The note examines the ethical and legal implications of pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives based on moral or religious objections. It argues that existing legal protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and professional standards already provide adequate safeguards for pharmacists, rendering additional conscience laws unnecessary. The analysis emphasizes the need to balance pharmacists' rights with patients' access to essential medications, highlighting concerns that conscience laws may hinder patient care without ensuring referrals to alternative providers.

Disciplines

Food and Drug Law | Law | Medical Jurisprudence | Sexuality and the Law

Recommended Citation

Dennis Rambaud, Prescription Contraceptives and the Pharmacist's Right to Refuse: Examining the Efficacy of Conscience Laws, 4 Cardozo Pub. L. Pol’y & Ethics J. 195 (2006).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cplpej/vol4/iss1/14