Unless he knew for certain that the woman who needed the prescription did not have an abortion. We must respect their conscience::
Planned Parenthood officials said the complaint states that the pharmacist inquired if the patient needed the drug for post-abortion care. The nurse refused to answer the question based on confidentiality of health information.
According to Planned Parenthood, the pharmacist then stated that if the nurse practitioner did not disclose that information, she would not fill the prescription. The nurse alleged that the pharmacist hung up when asked for a referral to another pharmacy that would fill the prescription.
Its annoying that the conscience clause doesn't seem to apply to any other issue or any other profession. Christian Scientists can't refuse to perform blood transfusions, etc - but abortions are icky and we must respect the beliefs of supposed "pro lifers" at all times [even when their actions prove they don't care about life]. Just like those people (a lot of them here on dkos) who want to concede the argument that some people don't want their money going to taxpayer dollars going to fund abortions. Since when do we get to pick and choose the specific policies that our tax dollars go to?
There could be numerous other reasons why the prescription is needed in the particular case - it prevents bleeding in many circumstances, not solely abortion, most importantly childbirth. It is not necessary at all for the pharmacist to know the details, that is not part of the job description. As long as it is a legally prescribed medication, they have no right to punish them due to their own twisted moral code - a woman could have died without it, and this pharmacist hung up on them. But we still have to call these people "pro-life"? [As many in the comments have noted, this shows that they do not care about life, they feel that the have the authority to rule whether a woman deserves health care based on their twisted morality which is not related to loving Christ's values but hating woman's rights. Sadly in this case, the pharmacist was also a woman.]
Even if an abortion was performed, it already happened, so the pharmacist wouldn't be "murdering" anything. Unstoppable bleeding may lead to death. Again, how is this to be considered pro-life?
I guess if you admitted that most prolifers just seek to punish women for doing 'evil,' then yes this makes perfect sense. The pharmacist was just checking that the woman deserved to live according to their own moral precepts before doing their goddamn job.
Via Feministe.
UPDATE: via Lynwaz in comments, the Idaho Press:
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest public affairs staff has since contacted Walgreens' Corporate office, and corrective action was taken with the Nampa pharmacist," Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest Director of Public Affairs Kristen Glundberg-Prossor said.
Legislation was passed last year giving pharmacists and other health care providers the right to refuse to provide any health care service or dispense any drugs that violates their conscience.
Any? That loophole keeps getting bigger.
UPDATE2: Thanks for the rec list everybody. First time in over 4 years as a kossack.
UPDATE3: lostboyjim linked to Idaho law, which may end up protecting this pharmacist, depending on how certain definitions and clauses are interpreted. Walgreens "punished" the pharmacist, but would Idaho allow Big Government to interfere in the affairs of private business to protect the anti-choicer? They would never be hypocrites, would they?
UPDATE4: One last thing before I need to leave, PP gets some funding from government for its non-abortion services (which is like 95% of what they do). My guess is that Boner's House will make sure it is at the top of the list in terms of things to cut from the budget in the March Continuing Resoultion fight. So if you can donate to this local, or the national organization, I am sure they could use it.