Hyerdahl wrote:
> Updated: 09:08 AM EST
> Illinois Druggists Must Dispense Birth Control
> By MAURA KELLY LANNAN, AP
>
> CHICAGO (April 2) - Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved an emergency rule
> Friday requiring pharmacies to fill birth control prescriptions
quickly
> after a Chicago pharmacist refused to fill an order because of moral
> opposition to the drug.

Good on him!  Finally, a man who stands up for his beliefs with the
overbearing beak of the nanny state standing over him.

> The emergency rule takes effect immediately for 150 days while the
> administration seeks a permanent rule.
>
> "Our regulation says that if a woman goes to a pharmacy with a
> prescription for birth control, the pharmacy or the pharmacist is not
> allowed to discriminate or to choose who he sells it to,''
Blagojevich

IOW, all the so-called "choice" you bleat about is extended only to
those who make the most political noise.  I guess the pharmacist lobby
isn't that big.

> said. "No delays. No hassles. No lectures.''
>
> Under the new rule, if a pharmacist does not fill the prescription
> because of a moral objection, another pharmacist must be available to
> fill it without delay.

Well now there's an idea.  Apply this whole "choice" thing to the
choice of which pharmacist you want.  Brilliant!  

> The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has
> also filed a formal complaint against the Chicago Osco pharmacy for
the
> Feb. 23 incident.
>
> The pharmacy was cited for "failing to provide appropriate
> pharmaceutical care to a patient.'' Penalties could include a fine,

Oh how I hate the word "appropriate."  It's so ambiguous that one can
hardly argue for or against it, which is why they in power positions
use it so frequently.  They don't want to argue, and they don't have
to.

> reprimand or revocation of the pharmacy's license.
>
> An Osco spokeswoman did not immediately return a call Friday.
>
> Steve Trombley, CEO for Planned Parenthood in Chicago, praised the
> state's efforts.

What???  I thought you were all about "choice," Trombley.

Interesting choice of words.  "Praise."  Could there be, 
implications of statism?

> "When medical professionals write prescriptions for their patients,
> they are acting in their patients' best interests,'' Trombley said.
"A

Guess that explains all the suits over phen-phen, Redux, Vioxx, and so
on.

> pharmacist's personal views cannot intrude on the relationship
between
> a woman and her doctor.''

This pharmacist wasn't intruding on anything.  Indeed, he was doing
nothing at all.  But, to people with a sense of entitlement to your
efforts, it is possible to attack them by not doing what they want.

> The Chicago pharmacist was not the first to attract attention for
> refusing to fill a birth control prescription.
>
> In February, a judge recommended that a Roman Catholic pharmacist in
> Wisconsin be reprimanded and required to attend ethics classes after
> the pharmacist blocked a woman's attempt to fill a prescription for

"Block" it how?  By not filling it?  Did he really make it impossible
for her to get her precious pills?  Or did he just not act like a good
boy and do as he was told?

The Church gave him all the ethics lessons he'll ever need.

[...]



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