A pharmacist in Aitkin County engaged in sex discrimination when he refused to fill a woman's prescription for emergency contraception because of his personal beliefs, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

It's believed to be the first time a U.S. court found it was sex discrimination to refuse to fill a prescription for emergency contraception. Jess Braverman, legal director for Gender Justice, one of the groups that worked on the lawsuit, said the ruling could have national implications in the ongoing battle over reproductive rights...

...The Appeals Court also found the jury was given incorrect instructions regarding how to determine whether the pharmacy was also liable for the pharmacist's decision not to fill the prescription. The ruling sends the case back to district court for a new trial, but the defendants could ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to weigh in....

...After a 2022 trial, a jury found discrimination had not occurred, but that Badeaux had caused Anderson emotional harm and awarded her $25,000 in damages. After the verdict, Badeaux's attorney said it was important that medical professionals may act in accordance with their beliefs.

Anderson's attorneys appealed the jury's decision that there was no sex discrimination. The Appeals Court agreed, noting the Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination, including not doing business with someone, because of their sex.

"This ruling is important to show that it is not just people's beliefs that matter. Patient health and safety matter, too," Braverman said. "You cannot turn people away who need reproductive health care."