A Christian pharmacist sued for not dispensing an abortion drug to a customer on the grounds of his religious beliefs is calling on the court of appeals to uphold his right to work in accordance with his faith.
Minnesota pharmacist George Badeaux faced legal action last year, accused of violating the civil rights of a mother of five after he refused to fill out a prescription for emergency contraception.
A jury ruled that Badeaux, who informed the woman that prescribing the morning-after-pill violated his beliefs and referred her to another pharmacist, did not discriminate against her.
Andrea Anderson, who filed the lawsuit against Badeaux and the pharmacy he works for, is seeking to appeal the decision.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Badeaux and Thrifty White Pharmacy filed a brief with the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday.
Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch said: ““No one should be forced to dispense drugs that can cause an abortion.
“Mr. Badeaux is a Christian who believes that an embryo is a new human life and, as such, taking a drug that prevents an embryo from implantation in the uterus ends a human life.
"We are urging the Minnesota Court of Appeals to affirm the jury’s verdict and trial court’s decision, which respected Mr. Badeaux’s constitutionally protected freedom to act consistent with his beliefs while at work.”
Anderson says she was forced to travel 100 miles to get the contraceptive after being refused. Her lawyers argue the actions of Badeaux and the pharmacy violate Minnesota’s Human Rights Act as Anderson received “lesser services than other customers because what she was going there for was emergency contraception.”
