Catholic pharmacist refuses to cooperate in dispensing contraceptive

Published: 2004-10-26

MADISON, Wis. (CNS) -- Neil Noesen, a Wisconsin Catholic pharmacist, could be fined and possibly lose his pharmacist's license for refusing to cooperate in seeing that a college student's prescription for artificial contraceptives was filled. The 30-year-old pharmacist said he has been clear with his employer that he will not participate in the filling of prescriptions for artificial contraceptives when those drugs are to be used for inhibiting conception. But he faces disciplinary action because he would not transfer the student's prescription to a pharmacist who would fill it. In July 2002, according to the complaint against him, Amanda (Renz) Phiede, then a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, went to the pharmacy at the local Kmart, where Noesen was filling in as an independent pharmacist. According to testimony given during an Oct. 11-12 disciplinary hearing, Noesen, the only pharmacist on duty at the store at the time, asked the student if the prescription would be used for contraception, then refused to refill it when she said it would be used for that. He also refused a Wal-Mart pharmacist's request to transfer the prescription.

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