(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) The Biden administration has issued a warning to America’s pharmacies, stating that government agents may seek prosecution if prescriptions for drugs that can be used to cause abortions are not filled.
The Department of Health and Human Services released a guidance letter “reminding [pharmacies] of their obligations under federal civil rights laws,” warning them to refrain from “pregnancy discrimination.”
According to Just the News, “pregnancy discrimination was defined as ‘discrimination based on current pregnancy, past pregnancy potential or intended pregnancy and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.'”
Continuing, the Biden administration’s guidance decreed that a pharmacy could be discriminating if they refused to fill prescriptions related to life-saving abortion procedures and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy.
But, the White House further suggested that the pharmacies may be subject to prosecution if they refuse to fill prescriptions of drugs that could be used to cause abortions, such as misoprotsol or methotrexates.
These drugs may be used to treat stomach ulcers and rheumatoid arthritis, but their abortion-causing abilities have been noted by pro-abortion advocates since the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
“We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access health care, free of discrimination,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. “This includes access to prescription medications for reproductive health and other types of care.”
This measure, which follows President Joe Biden’s signing of an executive order that attempts to codify abortion as a national right, is “the latest step in the HHS’ response to protect reproductive health rights.”
The press release listed other steps that HHS has taken since Roe‘s overturn, including the launching of a “reproductive rights” public awareness website, sending a letter to health insurance agencies “calling on the industry to… provide coverage for contraceptive services at no cost,” and announcing the spending of almost $3 million to provide training to Title X advocates.
