Christian Minnesota Pharmacist Fighting Lawsuits After Refusing to Violate his Religious Beliefs

January 8, 2024

A Christian Minnesota pharmacist is defending himself in court for transferring a customer who wanted “emergency contraception” to another pharmacy because fulfilling the order would’ve violated his religious beliefs, reported Alliance Defending Freedom.

George Badeaux, a Christian with over four decades of experience in pharmacy, faced a moral dilemma at Aitkin Pharmacy in Minnesota. His faith, which teaches that life is sacred from conception, guided his decision not to dispense drugs that could potentially end a human life, including emergency contraception.

In January 2019, a prescription for “ella,” a form of emergency contraception, was sent to Aitkin Pharmacy for a regular customer. Badeaux, upon learning that ella could prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, found himself in direct conflict with his religious convictions. He had, however, responsibly prepared for such situations by ensuring that another pharmacist could fulfill such prescriptions, adhering to both his professional duties and his faith.

Complications arose when a severe snowstorm threatened the availability of the other pharmacist. Demonstrating his commitment to the customer’s needs while upholding his religious beliefs, Badeaux contacted the woman to explain the situation. He offered to transfer her prescription to another pharmacy, even recommending the nearest CVS. Despite his efforts to provide a solution, the customer responded with anger and later initiated a lawsuit against Badeaux and Aitkin Pharmacy, accusing them of sex discrimination.

The lawsuit proceeded to trial in August 2022. After a thorough examination of the facts, the jury concluded that neither Badeaux nor the pharmacy had discriminated against the woman based on her sex. However, the customer appealed the verdict, and the case was escalated to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, defended by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys.

ADF attorneys presented oral arguments in the case last month.

This case is a critical moment for religious freedom in America, especially for Christians in the healthcare industry. It underscores the challenges faced by those who seek to balance their professional responsibilities with their deeply held religious beliefs. The Minnesota Human Rights Act’s definition of sex discrimination was central to the case, but Badeaux’s defense firmly rested on his religious conviction against participating in any act that could harm a fertilized egg.

Photo, top: Credits: Canva