Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Five Illinois pharmacies have filed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich challenging rule forcing pharmacies to dispense the morning after pill, which sometimes causes an abortion. They assert that the rule is a violation of their rights under state law.

Luke and Joan Vander Bleek who own two pharmacies in Whiteside County and co-own two pharmacies in Dekalb County with plaintiff Tom O’Shea, and Glenn Kosirog who owns a pharmacy in northern Cook County participated in the lawsuit. None of their pharmacies carry the Plan B drugs.

"It's really our only option to preserve our conscience and at the same time own a pharmacy in the state of Illinois. We are left no other legal option," Vander Bleek said.

Their lawsuit says Blagojevich's executive order violates the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act by compelling pharmacy owners who do not want to dispense the drugs to act against their ethical and moral beliefs.

Americans United for Life, a pro-life group, filed the lawsuit for the pharmacies in Sangamon County Circuit Court in Springfield.

“Our clients are suing to protect their rights as Americans -- their right to build a business,
contribute to society as health care professionals, and to live their lives according to their principles," says AUL staff attorney Ed Martin.

Martin continued, “This suit is a fight to defend private individuals' right to be free from this Governor's coercive and politically-motivated action."

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff told the Associated Press that those who disagree with the governor's order should just not carry any birth control drugs, since those who do not are not covered by it.

Several Illinois pharmacists have challenged the order as well, which a legislative committee made permanent.

A copy of the complaint can be found at
http://www.aul.org/ilroc/complaint-2005.9.14.pdf

Related web sites:
Americans United for Life - http://www.aul.org