Minnesota court rules pharmacist discriminated against woman in denying emergency contraception
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that a pharmacist engaged in sex-based discrimination when he refused to provide emergency contraception to a woman in 2019
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that a pharmacist who refused to provide emergency contraceptives to a customer because of his personal beliefs engaged in discrimination.
The three-judge panel ruled Monday that pharmacist George Badeaux engaged in business discrimination in 2019 when he wouldn't fill a prescription for an emergency contraception that is used to stop a pregnancy before it starts. The customer seeking the prescription said she then traveled about 100 miles (160 kilometers) round trip from the pharmacy in McGregor to another pharmacy in Brainerd, where she filled the prescription.
The customer, Andrea Anderson, later filed a lawsuit claiming discrimination under Minnesota's Human Rights Act.
“Badeaux’s refusal to dispense emergency contraception because it may interfere with a pregnancy is sex discrimination,” Judge Jeanne Cochran wrote in the ruling.
