Renton, WA - A large crowd of pro-choice activists voiced their support today for rules protecting patient access to prescriptions at a Board of Pharmacy hearing in Renton.  The hearing addressed two proposed rules that together would require pharmacies to fill legal prescriptions for stocked medications on-site and ensure that all patients are treated professionally and respectfully. 

“These rules are necessary because this is an issue of public health and safety,” said Karen Cooper, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.  “Patient access to appropriate care should not be undermined by personal, non-medical judgments”, she added.

The rules will help ensure that women seeking birth control or emergency contraception at their local pharmacy are not denied needed medications based on pharmacists’ personal, non-medical judgments.  “Women must be able to access birth control and emergency contraception in order to make responsible decisions about their reproductive lives,” said Cooper.  

“Pharmacy refusals impact all patients, not only those seeking birth control, by undermining public confidence in the care they will receive when they walk into their local pharmacy”, Cooper concluded.

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