Illinois Gov Blagojevich Wants Pharmacies to Install Morning After Pill Signs 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 31, 2006
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) — In his latest effort to force pharmacists to dispense the morning after pill, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says he wants to require pharmacies to post signs telling customers of their right to get the drug, which can sometimes cause an abortion.
Blagojevich’s previous order forcing pharmacists to fill prescriptions for the drug has led the the firing of a handful of pharmacists and three lawsuits.
The signs pharmacies would be required to post would include an email address customers could use to contact state officials and lodge complaints if they are not able to obtain the Plan B pills.
"It deals with contraceptives because that’s the one we’ve had trouble with," Susan Hofert, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, told the Belleville News-Democrat newspaper.
The head of the department will be in Edwardsville, Illinois on Friday to get public feedback about the sign proposal. There will also be other public forums for input and state residents can voice their concerns about Blagojevich’s proposal to the department via its web site and email address.
The department will make a decision about the governor’s idea in six weeks and its decision does not need approval from the state legislature.
Rich Quayle of Highland, one of five Walgreens pharmacists fired for refusing to fill prescriptions for the drug after Blagojevich’s order, told the News-Democrat that posting the signs adds insult to injury.
Despite firing the pharmacists, Walgreens has joined in their lawsuit seeking to overturn Blagojevich’s rule.
"Our policy has always been that the pharmacist could choose to step away from a prescription," Walgreens spokesman Tiffani Bruce told the newspaper.
She indicated the order went against company policy to allow pharmacists to opt out of filling a prescription as long as they helped the customer get it filled by another pharmacist or pharmacy.
Quayle told the newspaper he was surprised by Walgreens joining the lawsuit.
"For two years Walgreens has been telling us we’re wrong and the governor is right," Quayle said.
The suspended pharmacists also filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It and the lawsuit are still pending.
Related web sites:
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation – https://www.idfpr.com
