GERMAN pharmacists have been given the green light to decline to dispense emergency contraception to patients based on their religious beliefs, following a court ruling last week.
The decision stems from a case taken by the Berlin Chamber of Pharmacists against a now retired pharmacy owner who never stocked or sold the morning after pill, due to his deeply held beliefs, Pharmacy Business reported.
Faith-based legal advocacy group ADF International supported the pharmacist and welcomed the ruling, noting it was the first time a German court had addressed the matter.
ADF International legal counsel, Felix Bollmann, said the decision was "a clear statement that the pharmacist had the right to act in life with his conscience and did not neglect his professional duty in doing so".
"Nobody should be forced to choose between their conscience and their profession," Bollmann said.
"The conscience rights of pharmacists are often, and sometimes deliberately, ill-defined in national law.
"The right to freedom of conscience must include the right to act accordingly."
Bollmann noted that across Europe legislation clearly protected medical staff from taking part in procedures they objected to on conscientious grounds, however pharmacists could find themselves in "a legal grey area" when it came to the protection of their conscience rights.
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