Court Allows Pharmacists' Emergency Contraception Case To Proceed

CHICAGO - The Illinois Supreme Court has dealt a blow to a rule requiring pharmacies to dispense emergency contraception.

Lower courts had dismissed claims from pharmacists who object to emergency contraception on religious grounds. Thursday's ruling reverses the lower courts, sending the case back to the circuit court.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued the rule prohibiting pharmacies from turning away women seeking emergency contraception, sometimes called the morning-after pill.

Mark Rienzi, an attorney for the pharmacists, says Thursday's ruling tells health-care workers they have the right to go to court if their religious views conflict with the governor's.

Emergency contraception reduces the chance of pregnancy if taken within three days after sex. Opponents consider it a form of abortion.

Comments

[benne]

Whatever happened to the real abortion pill (not the morning-after contraception pill) -- RU486? I wonder whether we'll finally make it available to women here.

[leo21]

Oh great. One of the few genuine accomplishments of the Blago era may get obliterated.