Governor and Lawmakers Ignore Pharmacists Right of Conscience

Governor and Lawmakers Ignore Pharmacists Right of Conscience with the emergency rule filed in April 2005, forcing pharmacists and pharmacies to dispense without delay prescriptions for Plan B Emergency Contraceptives. It was made permanent by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) on Tuesday August 16, 2005.

(PRWEB) August 20, 2005 -- Governor and Lawmakers Ignore Pharmacists Right of Conscience with the emergency rule filed in April 2005 forcing pharmacists and pharmacies to dispense without delay prescriptions for Plan B Emergency Contraceptives. It was made permanent by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) on Tuesday August 16, 2005.

The temporary rule change has already been challenged by pharmacists in state courts that have maintained that they are already covered by the Healthcare Right of Conscience Act and that the rule change violates their right of conscience and is in conflict with the act. They have also maintained that the Governor has interfered with their rights to practice their faith without demonstrating a compelling state interest, and their human rights have been violated in that they are being required to violate their beliefs as a condition for continued employment and licensure in this state.

The morning after pill is a multiple dose of oral contraceptive. It may prevent ovulation or, if fertilization has occurred, it may prevent the implantation of a newly conceived human being. The common descriptions given by the Governor and the Advocates of this rule change have mislead the public in that they routinely fail to describe the abortifacient action of the so-called Morning After Pill." The ultimate goal of groups like Planned Parenthood is to insist that these abortifacients are eventually dispensed without a prescription.

Illinois has had a long standing tradition in statutory and case law of protecting medical practitioner's right of conscience. Physicians are not required to perform an abortion in this state if it violates their right of conscience. Pharmacists are an integral part of the medical profession and undergo years of training and licensing and should not be treated differently. This principle should and must also apply to the prescription of abortifacients where filling them would violate the conscience of the pharmacist.

Since these rules will become permanent once they are filed with the Secretary of State citizens have a right to lodge complaints about these rules with JCAR and are permitted to suggest rule revisions. Additionally JCAR may open an investigation based upon a public complaint.

Lawmakers also need to act and should introduce legislation aimed at protecting the pharmacists' right of conscience, otherwise this state will continue to be embroiled in expensive and costly litigation and the very real possibility that pharmacists, whose rights are no longer protected, will decide to practice elsewhere.

# # #