A ruling in Germany upholding the right of pharmacists to conscientiously object to selling the ‘morning after pill’, which can act as an abortifacient, is being appealed by the professional body for pharmacists.

The case concerns German pharmacist, Andreas Kersten, who before his retirement, owned and operated a pharmacy in Berlin. In accordance with his conscience and his deeply held beliefs, he neither stocked nor sold the ‘morning after pill’. This drug can prevent the implantation of an embryo in the uterus and cause the death of an unborn child. After refusing to sell the product in his pharmacy, he was reported to the Berlin Pharmacists’ Chamber which took the matter to the Professional Court at the Administrative Court of Berlin.

The court ruled in his favour, but the Pharmacists’ Chamber has now appealed against the decision.