Target won't budge on emergency contraception

The retail giant won't guarantee that women can fill those prescriptions at its pharmacies.

Published November 11, 2005 6:27PM (EST)

Planned Parenthood has been pressuring Target for more than a year to guarantee that women will be able to receive emergency contraception from the retailer's pharmacies. The campaign followed an incident in Missouri where a Target pharmacist refused to fill a woman's prescription.

Other chains, like Kmart, CVS and Costco, have no problem making emergency contraception available. But never mind the competition. Today, the official word from Planned Parenthood: Target is not budging.

In a statement released Friday, the reproductive-health advocacy group denounced the retail giant: "Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today condemned the Target Corporation for standing by a company policy that allows pharmacists to refuse to fill valid, legal prescriptions for birth control, including emergency contraception Pharmacist refusals are a disturbing trend that can jeopardize women's reproductive health. Denying women timely access to health care is an act of discrimination that could lead to an increased number of unintended pregnancies."

Thanks for nothing, Target.


By Katharine Mieszkowski

Katharine Mieszkowski is a senior writer for Salon.

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