A Law Professor Explains Why Walgreens Can Deny Birth Control Prescriptions–And How Policies Might Change

June 27, 2018

(The Verge) – Walgreens has apologized for how Arteaga’s case was handled, but it said that the employee had not violated company policy. There have long been rules in place that don’t require doctors to assist with medical abortion because of religious or moral obligations. This particular Walgreens is in Arizona, one of six states that lets pharmacies refuse to provide contraception as well, again on religious or moral grounds. Such behavior is protected by the so-called “conscience clause.” (In this particular case, the drug was not for emergency contraception. The baby had stopped developing and Arteaga had written that she would eventually have had a miscarriage.)