Profession

California conscience-clause bill set to go into effect

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 12, 2005

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Starting Jan. 1, 2006, California pharmacists must fill all legal prescriptions unless they have voiced objections to their employers in writing. The new law, which California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed in late September, allows pharmacists who believe that the emergency contraceptive pill marketed as Plan B is a form of abortion to refuse to fill a prescription. But pharmacists will need to inform their employers in writing about their beliefs, and the pharmacy would be legally obligated to fill the prescription or refer the patient to another pharmacy.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/12/prbf1212.htm.

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