Several days ago, there were some diaries recounting an incident at a Midwestern Target in which a woman was unable to get an Emergency Contraception prescription filled at Target.
Many of us wrote in asking Target to tell us what happened, and we got a response that said that their policy "ensures a guest's prescription for emergency contraception is filled, whether at Target or at a different pharmacy."
It was that last part that got many of us bothered. I, and many others, wrote Target back asking for clarification on the "different pharmacy" clause.
Here's what I got back today:
Dear Target Guest,
Target is extremely disappointed that Planned Parenthood is spreading misleading information about an alleged incident at a Target pharmacy in Missouri and our policies on emergency contraception. The accounts being reported are inaccurate and exaggerated. Our policy is comparable to that of many other national retailers and the recommendations of the American Pharmacists Association.
Target consistently ensures that prescriptions for emergency contraception are filled. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we also are legally required to accommodate our team members' sincerely held religious beliefs as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the unusual event that a Target pharmacist's sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with filling a guest's prescription for emergency contraception, Target policy requires our pharmacists to take responsibility for ensuring that the guest's prescription is filled in a timely and respectful manner. If it is not done in this manner, disciplinary action will be taken.
Target abides by all state and local laws and, in the event that other laws conflict with our policy, we will follow the law.
We appreciate the opportunity to clarify our position and correct misinformation.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive Offices
To which I responded:
Please know that my insistence on finding out Target's policy was not motivated by Planned Parenthood (a group I support wholeheartedly, I might add). It was prompted by your very own response to my request for more information.
When I sent my initial e-mail asking you what your policy was (because I had heard about the incident in question and wanted to find out what your policy was), your corporate response was that your policy "ensures a guest's prescription for emergency contraception is filled, whether at Target or at a different pharmacy."
From where I sit, if a customer is sent to another pharmacy, you are not serving her. You have made a stressful situation even more stressful.
This was not "misleading information" from Planned Parenthood. It was a direct quote from an e-mail you sent me. If THAT e-mail was in error and it does not accurately portray your corporate policy, then that is not Planned Parenthood's fault. It's yours.
So, is your policy to send a customer to a different pharmacy is the pharmacist on-duty is unwilling to fill her prescription? It's a simple question that deserves a simple answer.
Am I being nitpicky here? Or is Target just being dicky?