In 2002, pharmacist Neil Noesen refused to refill Amanda Phiede’s valid prescription for birth control pills. Claiming that doing would violate his religious beliefs, Noesen also refused to transfer her prescription to be filled at another pharmacy. Amanda returned to the pharmacy the next day with local law enforcement to get her pills, to no avail. As a result, Amanda missed the first dose of her medication and was forced to use a back-up method of birth control. The state Pharmacy Examining Board subsequently disciplined Noesen for his failure to adequately inform his employer of his religious objections to filling prescriptions for contraception and for his unwillingness to transfer this prescription to another pharmacy. Noesen appealed that decision.

Yesterday, a Wisconsin appeals court upheld the state’s discipline of Noesen. According to the ACLU, the "Court of Appeals’s decision held that Noesen’s refusal to transfer the prescription violates a pharmacist’s standard of care. Requiring all pharmacists to act in a professionally competent manner protects the public health, enhances patient autonomy, and promotes women’s equality."

Since 2002, Noesen has inspired similar acts by other religious extremists operating behind the counter. Thanks to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, this way of preying on women's rights has become more difficult. Anti-contraception fundamentalists can no longer steal women's prescriptions as an act of religious freedom, but they can still give women the run around.