From Yahoo News:
http://news.yahoo.com/...
ST. LOUIS - Walgreen Co. said it has put four Illinois pharmacists in the St. Louis area on unpaid leave for refusing to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception in violation of a state rule.
The four cited religious or moral objections to filling prescriptions for the morning-after pill and "have said they would like to maintain their right to refuse to dispense, and in Illinois that is not an option," Walgreen spokeswoman Tiffani Bruce said.
A rule imposed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in April requires Illinois pharmacies that sell contraceptives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control. Pharmacies that do not fill prescriptions for any type of contraception are not required to follow the rule.
State law? STATE LAW?! Why doesn't EVERY (at least Blue) state have this law? Polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans do not want their pharmacists playing doctor/God with their healthcare decisions.
This should be the Democratic wedge issue in 2006.
The Rethugs' homophobia voter initiatives were extremely successful in bringing out the base to the polls.
Now it is our turn. Will the powers that be have the foresight to orchestrate this? What a perfect frame, the right to privacy, the right to dignity in health care decisions made between you and your doctor. Come out to the polls and defend your rights. Vote Democratic. Vote for this provision to prevent American Taliban pharmacists from playing God in your state.