JURIST - Paper Chase: Illinois pharmacists violating state rule on emergency contraceptives

[JURIST] Walgreens [corporate website] said Thursday it has suspended four Illinois pharmacists without pay for refusing to fill prescriptions for the morning-after pill in violation of a state rule. The pharmacists said their objections stemmed from religious or moral beliefs. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich [official website] issued a rule April 1, 2005 demanding that pharmacists make the pill available [press release] "without delay." Blagojevich's spokeswoman said at the time that once a pharmacist begins selling some contraceptives he must sell all products in that category regardless of moral beliefs. An attorney for the pharmacists has called the discipline "pretty disturbing" and said they were contemplating taking legal action. Other pharmacists have sued [JURIST report] over the rule, claiming it forces them to violate their religious beliefs. AP has more.

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