FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Ann Mullen, 313-400-8562, amullen@aclumich.org
DETROIT – The ACLU of Michigan today sent a letter to the Walgreens drugstore chain asking for an investigation, policy changes and an apology to Kristin Tweedale and her partner, Jeffrey Kramer, who was inappropriately questioned and harassed at a Lansing store last September when he attempted to fill a prescription from an OB-GYN to treat Ms. Tweedale for a miscarriage.
Initially claiming that “personal beliefs” regarding abortion prevented her from dispensing the prescribed medication, the pharmacist proceeded to berate Mr. Kramer and interrogate him about his partner’s medical information in front of many other customers before relenting and filling the prescription.
Subsequent attempts by the couple to bring concerns about the pharmacist’s unprofessional and inappropriate behavior to Walgreens managers resulted in further scolding.
Walgreens has a history of disputes involving its employees’ objections to dispensing medication related to pregnancy. Since 2018, Walgreens has repeatedly been accused of allowing its pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions if they believe the medication will be used to circumvent state laws or if they have a moral objection to filling the prescription.
A spokesperson for Walgreens Boot Alliance – the parent company of Walgreens pharmacy brands – stated in a media interview that Walgreens allows pharmacists to use their discretion “when determining the legality of a prescription based on state law.” However, at the time of this incident involving Ms. Tweedale and Mr. Kramer, in September 2024, Michigan not only had no abortion ban, but had also codified the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution.
Bonsitu Kitaba, deputy legal director at the ACLU of Michigan, said this about the letter: “There is no reason anyone seeking reproductive healthcare in Michigan should be subjected to the harassment and embarrassment experienced by Ms. Tweedale and Mr. Kramer for something as simple, straight-forward and clearly legal as having a doctor’s prescription filled. Michiganders fought tirelessly to enshrine the right to reproductive freedom in our state constitution to prevent these exact situations. We expect Walgreens to pay serious attention to this letter and take action to address the concerns we’ve detailed, unlike the Lansing store manager who not only ignored our clients but affirmed the pharmacist’s harassing behavior.
“Specifically, Walgreens needs to overhaul its policy and train and monitor its staff to ensure that patients receive their prescribed medications without harassment or unprofessional treatment by pharmacists as is required by law.”
Jeffrey Kramer had this to say about the issue: “No one should have to endure humiliation and inconvenience to receive vital, time-sensitive medication. Likewise, no customer should ever have to know about or be confronted with a pharmacist’s objection to providing reproductive healthcare.”
Kristin Tweedale had this to say about the issue: “We hope that bringing our extremely personal information to public light will compel Walgreens to institute much-needed changes so that others won’t have to suffer through the completely unwarranted and embarrassing harassment we experienced during what was already a very difficult time in our lives.”
Read the ACLU letter to Walgreens here.
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