The American Center for Law and Justice, founded by evangelist Pat Robertson, has filed a lawsuit to stop Illinois from requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception.
Grrr.
The rule, imposed by Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this year, requires that pharmacies “must accept and fill prescriptions for contraceptives without delay.” Blagojevich also created a toll free number where women can report non-compliant pharmacies.
But the right-wing Christian organization is arguing that this violates pharmacists’ rights. (Women? Who are they?)
From the org’s website: Doctors, nurses and pharmacists should not be compelled to violate their conscience and participate in an abortion procedure.
Wow. I had no idea that women were looking for over-the-counter abortions! Please. (And don’t forget, a good number of these “conscience clause” pharmacists actually refused to fill prescriptions for birth control, not just emergency contraception.)
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Gee, they seem to like activist judges now don't they?
When the "right" includes denying others meds, that's good and worthy of judicial activism.
When the "right" includes marriage between loving adults, that's bad and so is judicial activism.
I would have to say that if they don't like filling these legal prescriptions, perhaps these oppressed pharmacists should find a new line of work.
Shouldn't a privately owned pharmacy be able to sell what they wish?
Things in Canada might be better regarding emergency contraceptives, but we have our own battles.
This may be of interest to those who are pursuing this issue for the long haul.
"Privacy Issues Raised Over Plan B: Women Asked for Names, Addresses, Sexual History
CMAJ. December 6, 2005. 173(12)
"The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is advising its members to collect women's names, addresses, and sensitive personal information before dispensing the emergency contraceptive levonorgestrel (Plan B)–a practice that is sounding alarms for women's organizations and privacy experts.
As levonorgestrel moved from being a prescription drug to a behind-the-counter medication in April 2005, the CPhA posted guidelines for pharmacists online (www.pharmacists.ca) on distributing the drug, including instructions on the need to counsel women and a form to guide this counselling (www.pharmacists.ca/content/about_cpha/Whats_Happening/CphA_in_Action/pdf/ECP_PatientScreeningFormForECPs.pdf). The CPhA also offered courses on how to counsel."
More>>>
12/16/2005 "
http://www.cwhn.ca/hot/news/default.html#cmajECP
Shouldn't a privately owned pharmacy be able to sell what they wish?
Sure. And a privately owned restaurant should be able to tell black people to sit on the floor, too.