Complaint: Planned Parenthood illegally distributing abortion-inducing drugs, other drugs in NH
ADF-allied attorney files complaint with state pharmacy board on behalf of NH Right to Life
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012
Attorney sound bite: Michael Tierney
CONCORD, N.H. — Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is distributing abortion-inducing drugs and other drugs at its six New Hampshire clinics in violation of state law, according to a complaint filed with the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy Tuesday. Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney Michael Tierney filed the complaint on behalf of New Hampshire Right to Life.
“No matter where a person stands on abortion, everyone should agree that Planned Parenthood has to play by the same rules as everyone else,” said Tierney, an attorney with the Manchester firm of Wadleigh, Starr & Peters, PLLC, and one of more than 2,100 attorneys in the ADF alliance. “In this case, that means it must obey state laws that say only licensed pharmacists may distribute prescription drugs when a clinic is not under contract with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.”
Since the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services terminated its contract with Planned Parenthood last year, the six New Hampshire clinics have continued to distribute drugs, including abortion-inducing drugs, even though they apparently have no licensed pharmacists at the clinics, the complaint claims.
The complaint provides communications by Planned Parenthood leaders indicating that they knew that dispensing such prescriptions without a pharmacist on staff was a violation of the state statute. State law provides for substantial fines and revocation or suspension of license for dispensing drugs in violation of the statute. The six clinics together dispense more than $4,000 of birth control and abortion-causing drugs every day.
“Planned Parenthood does not currently have a contract with the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services and has not had one since July 1, 2011,” the complaint states. “Nevertheless, it appears that Planned Parenthood has been dispensing pharmaceuticals since September 14, 2011 and intends in June of 2012 to apply for a renewal of its Limited Retail Drug Distributor’s license to continue dispensing pharmaceuticals without a pharmacist in its six New Hampshire abortion clinics.”
The complaint requests “that the Board of Pharmacy take all appropriate action to prevent Planned Parenthood” from violating the state law that allows only licensed pharmacists to dispense prescription drugs.
“No matter where a person stands on abortion, everyone should agree that Planned Parenthood has to play by the same rules as everyone else,” said Tierney, an attorney with the Manchester firm of Wadleigh, Starr & Peters, PLLC, and one of more than 2,100 attorneys in the ADF alliance. “In this case, that means it must obey state laws that say only licensed pharmacists may distribute prescription drugs when a clinic is not under contract with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.”
Since the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services terminated its contract with Planned Parenthood last year, the six New Hampshire clinics have continued to distribute drugs, including abortion-inducing drugs, even though they apparently have no licensed pharmacists at the clinics, the complaint claims.
The complaint provides communications by Planned Parenthood leaders indicating that they knew that dispensing such prescriptions without a pharmacist on staff was a violation of the state statute. State law provides for substantial fines and revocation or suspension of license for dispensing drugs in violation of the statute. The six clinics together dispense more than $4,000 of birth control and abortion-causing drugs every day.
“Planned Parenthood does not currently have a contract with the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services and has not had one since July 1, 2011,” the complaint states. “Nevertheless, it appears that Planned Parenthood has been dispensing pharmaceuticals since September 14, 2011 and intends in June of 2012 to apply for a renewal of its Limited Retail Drug Distributor’s license to continue dispensing pharmaceuticals without a pharmacist in its six New Hampshire abortion clinics.”
The complaint requests “that the Board of Pharmacy take all appropriate action to prevent Planned Parenthood” from violating the state law that allows only licensed pharmacists to dispense prescription drugs.
- Pronunciation guide: Tierney (TEER’-nee)
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.