Posted on 04/19/2005 4:35:19 PM PDT by IleeneWright
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich now faces a lawsuit over his executive order requiring pharmacists in the state to fill all legal prescriptions for any drugs -- including birth control or morning after pills that some pharmacists believe cause abortions.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a pro-life law firm, filed suit in state court on behalf of two pharmacists who say dispensing such drugs violates their moral beliefs. They contend they should not be required to participate in the abortions the drugs may cause or to contribute to a customer's sexual activity.
The ACLJ lawsuit says the Governor's order is unenforceable and lawsuit urges the court to overturn it.
The lawsuit also points to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which allows Illinois health care providers to not participate in medical services about which they have a moral objection.
Francis J. Manion, a senior ACLJ attorney said Blagojevich's directive "is not only legally flawed but it puts pharmacists in the untenable position of having to choose between adhering to their religious beliefs and violating a law that could cost them their jobs."
"The religious beliefs of those in the health care industry must be protected," said Manion. "The pro-life pharmacist who chooses not to dispense abortion producing drugs should not face punishment and discrimination for abiding by those convictions."
Blagojevich's office responded to the lawsuit, saying it "will vigorously defend a woman's right to get her prescription for birth control filled without delay, without hassle and without a lecture."
"If a pharmacy wants to be in the business of dispensing contraceptives, then it must fill prescriptions without making moral judgments," Blagojevich said on Wednesday, according to a CNS News report.
Peggy Pace and John Menges, two registered pharmacists who will not dispense the morning-after pill or Plan B medication because of their religious, moral, and ethical beliefs brought the lawsuit. Both believe the drugs can act as abortion agents.
Both work for retail pharmacy stores and they join other pharmacists who say they will not dispense such drugs.
Blagojevich's order takes effect for 150 days while his administration pursues putting a permanent rule in place.
The ACLJ filed legal papers with the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Springfield, Illinois.
Related web sites: American Center for Law and Justice - http://www.aclj.org
Where will this end? There are other pills besides BC that can 'contribute to a customer's sexual activity'. Do they ask men who get their viagra scripts filled any incriminating questions?
Both pharmacists should quit and find new jobs if they're not willing to do what they're paid to do.
Good. What kind of country is this that forces a worker to violate his own conscience? Certainly not a free country.
Some good Illinois news.
"Rod" needs to stay out of this business after his flu shot fiasco that cost the state millions
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Both pharmacists should quit and find new jobs if they're not willing to do what they're paid to do.
I've been a pharmacy tech for over 10 years and have seen pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions for numerous reasons. All they have to do is go to another pharmacy.
Blagojevich issues executive orders, creates NEW law, changes OLD laws...... on a WEEKLY BASIS!
He received a phone call from a woman in chicago and THAT DAY, this emergency order was written! The thing of it is....no one's prescription was REFUSED! The pharmacist told the woman, that because of his faith, he wouldn't be able to fill it, but the other pharmacist would, if she would just come back in a few hours.
Most people have off sunday because of regligious reasons, should we re-think this
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Very interesting... sounds like a troublemaker, maybe a plant.
If I owned a pharmacy and you refused to fill prescriptions to my customers, I'd fire you in a nanosecond. I didn't hire you to pick and choose which of my paying customers you would tell to go take a hike.
No! The women need to find another pharmacist who will fill her ABORTION PILL PRESCRIPTION! Otherwise, the next time I enter a MUSLIM restaurant, there had better be PORK on that menu!
It will end in freedom of conscience!
We prefer International Socialist Governor Roddie Blow-dry-bitch keeping his little 'Rat nose out of the pharmaceutical business.
POSSIBLY? Sure wouldn't surprise me!
No, because it isn't a problem. In reality, though, most people have Sunday off because it's a weekend and has nothing to do with religion.
I would not enroll in a medical school that would require me to learn abortions. Why work for a pharmacy that has birth control and abortion pills? Freedom of conscience my foot. I hope they're at least consistent and don't sell ANY bc whatsoever.
If a governor can't issue an executive order to save an innocent woman's life, I don't see how one can just decree that pharmacists must violate their religious values and hand out abortion pills.
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