Target's response to my email

[Mad_Dem_X]

A few weeks ago, I sent an email to Target Corporation re: Pharmacists not filling birth control prescriptions. I finally got a response today:

Dear Target Guest



In our ongoing effort to provide great service to our guests, Target consistently ensures that prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B are filled. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also requires us to accommodate our team members’ sincerely held religious beliefs.



In the rare event that a pharmacist’s beliefs conflict with filling a guest’s prescription for the emergency contraceptive Plan B, our policy requires our pharmacists to take responsibility for ensuring that the guest’s prescription is filled in a timely and respectful manner, either by another Target pharmacist or a different pharmacy.

The emergency contraceptive Plan B is the only medication for which this policy applies.
Under no circumstances can the pharmacist prevent the prescription from being filled, make discourteous or judgmental remarks, or discuss his or her religious beliefs with the guest.

Target abides by all state and local laws and, in the event that other laws conflict with our policy, we follow the law.



We're surprised and disappointed by Planned Parenthood’s negative campaign. We’ve been talking with Planned Parenthood to clarify our policy and reinforce our commitment to ensuring that our guests’ prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B are filled. Our policy is similar to that of many other retailers and follows the recommendations of the American Pharmacists Association. That’s why it’s unclear why Target is being singled out.

We’re committed to meeting the needs of our female guests and will continue to deliver upon that commitment.

Sincerely,



Jennifer Hanson

Target Executive Offices

********************************************

"Planned Parenthood's negative campaign"? "Unclear why Target is being singled out?" Am I the only one who thinks this is bullshit? Target is not being "singled out" - there are other pharmacies who are being taken to task for not filling birth control scripts.

:wtf:

[Carolab]

1. CVS, for one.

And I thought I saw this in reference to a Wal-Mart pharmacy as well.

[nini]

2. I wonder if those pharmacists have a problem with Viagra?

I'm sure that drug is just fine. It boggles my mind that insurance companies cover viagra but not birth control.

If a pharamacist has any ethical issues with his job duties, he/she should find another career.

[marbuc]

3. I think it's a fine letter

They've gone on record in support of a woman's right to have this perscription filled, and have stated a company policy backing this up. Keep an eye on what they do from here forward, but at this point they should be considered to be on good standing on this issue.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. This is an auto-response like email

I've seen the same thing posted here on DU several times in the past couple months. It seems like they knew they stirred some shit out and came up with a standard memo to reply with.

[Beaverhausen]

5. I hadn't seen that "discourteous or judgemental remarks" part before

so I think some progress is being made.

This very well could have been one incident at one Target that has been blown out of proportion.

[TheProphetess]

6. I got the exact same message today

Here is my reply:

Dear Ms. Hanson,

Thank you very much for your response. I appreciate your thoughtful comments about the filling of prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B.

I certainly do respect that one’s religious beliefs may conflict with another person’s use of contraceptive methods; however, I do believe that pharmacists must do their jobs in filling all prescriptions rather than second-guessing a decision made by a patient and her doctor. If a woman must leave the Target pharmacy and travel to another store to have a prescription filled, based solely on the pharmacist’s personal beliefs about the medication, then that pharmacist and his or her employer are placing undue difficulties on that patient in receiving medical treatment. In addition, there is no guarantee that she won’t face the same objections at the next store.

I do not have a problem with having another pharmacist, at the same location, fill the prescription instead. Please understand, however, that if a woman is sexually assaulted, for example, and the only pharmacist on duty objects to filling the Plan B emergency contraception, then that woman is forced to suffer additional hardships by traveling from store to store to have her prescription filled. To me, it is an additional emotional assault on the victim of a horrendous crime.

If a person cannot do his or her job as a pharmacist, then that person should not hold the job of a pharmacist. If Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that people function in jobs for which they cannot fulfill duties, then perhaps pharmacies must adopt the practice of having multiple pharmacists working at all times (one who does not object to the filling of all prescriptions, as the job requires).

I hope you will consider these comments when making decisions about pharmacy policies. Again, I appreciate the opportunity to share my views with you.
*******************************************************************
We'll see what comes next, if anything.

[MichiganVote]

7. I got the same letter. Fired off another one that said it wasn't good

enough. No one needs to wonder whether their idea of timely is good enough. Prescriptions are prescriptions and the pharmacist is only a conduit. I don't give a damn what their religious beliefs determine for themselves.

Target is off my christmas list. Indefinetly.