Jury Sides With Fired Pro-Life Calif. Nurse on Distributing Drugs

by Associated Press
Riverside, CA -- In a decision that could have abortion implications for nurses and pharmacists, a federal jury ordered a county public health clinic in Riverside to pay $47,000 in damages to a pro-life nurse who was fired after she refused to give patients "morning-after" pills.

The decision by the eight-member jury was reached Friday but announced this week. It awarded $19,000 in back pay and more than $28,000 in damages for emotional distress to 28-year-old Michelle Diaz, who said dispensing "morning-after" contraceptive pills violated her religious beliefs.

The jury found that firing Diaz violated her constitutional rights of free speech and freedom of religion.

County officials plan to ask U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips to set aside the jury verdict. They argue that Diaz was still a probationary employee in June 1999 when clinic officials learned she was telling other nurses who worked at the Riverside Neighborhood Health Center that they would be required to perform abortions. Diaz considers the pill an abortifacient.

From:  The Pro-Life Infonet <infonet@prolifeinfo.org>
Reply-To:  Steven Ertelt <infonet@prolifeinfo.org>
Subject:   Jury Sides With Fired Pro-Life Calif. Nurse on Distributing
Drugs
Source:   Associated Press; May 31, 2002