Repro Health Hub

A little over a week ago, the U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Leighton made emergency contraception even more difficult to gain access to in Washington State.   

It all started last year with a lawsuit filed by a couple of pharmacists who claimed the state law requiring EC distribution from pharmacies violated their civil rights. Leighton issued an injunction in November which implemented a “refuse and refer” policy throughout the state. The policy is exactly as its name implies - pharmacists are legally able to refuse to give out EC as long as they refer their patients to other distributors of the contraceptive. Earlier this month, Leighton refused to lift this injunction that stifles reproductive health access.  

But thanks to NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, it has become easier for women in the state to avoid having their rights be refused and referred at all. In response to a survey  they conducted which found that 10% of Washington pharmacies turn away women seeking emergency contraceptives, the local chapter of the women’s rights advocacy organization just released an interactive map informing Washington residents on the status of pharmacies throughout the state. You can find out which pharmacies stock and offer Plan B, those which stock and refuse Plan B, and of course those which do not stock the birth control at all. So if you’re a Washington resident and ever need to back up your birth control, make sure to visit the site so you aren’t denied access to EC!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 7:34 pm and is filed under Reproductive Rights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.