e workplace. Health care workers, particularly pharmacists, are receiving media scrutiny for the increasing number of incidences which they refuse to fill prescriptions. Currently, there is a national debate occurring over whether health care professionals have the right to refuse procedures they find morally wrong. The Catholic Church upholds the value of each human life. Catholic health care workers are having to make the tough decision between their jobs or their religious beliefs. Some employees may feel compelled to leave a job in order to maintain their moral beliefs. Conscience laws (clauses) grant employees the right to refuse to perform work or provide services that violate their religious or moral beliefs. California currently has a stricter conscience clause than most states which permits …show more content…
The Illinois law requires pharmacist to fill prescriptions for FDA-approved contraception. Many Illinois pharmacists have lost their job due to refusing to fill such prescriptions. Conscience laws are designed to provide a balance for protected workers who have to choose between their occupations and religious beliefs.
National Women’s Law Center takes on the “no” side of the argument by stating that pharmacist do not have the right to refuse contraceptive prescriptions. The center believes contraception is basic health care for women. Women of reproductive age must use contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy. If a women wants only two children, she must use contraception for about three decades of her life. Also, contraceptives provide a range of other medical purposes such as regulation of cycles. Emergency contraception, or the morning after pill