Bravo Blago

See, you can be a good governor:

(CHICAGO) — Governor Rod Blagojevich today filed an emergency rule with the Illinois Secretary of State's office requiring birth control prescriptions be filled without delay at pharmacies selling contraceptives.

Under the rule, if the contraceptive is not in stock, the pharmacy must order it or, if the patient prefers, transfer the prescription to a nearby pharmacy.

If the pharmacist does not fill the prescription because of a moral objection, another pharmacist must be available to fill it. The emergency rule takes effect immediately and stays in effect for 150 days.

Blagojevich is a result of a Chicago pharmacist recently refusing to fill orders for contraceptives because of moral opposition.

This nonsense about not selling prescribed drugs due to "moral" reasons is complete bullshit. If you don't like it get another job.

Update: Peoria Pundit thinks this is a bad idea. Essentially, he thinks it should be up to the consumer to go elsewhere if a pharmacist will not sell you birth control pills. I have lots of problems with that line of thinking but here's the biggie:

Let me put it in the form of an example. Say my wife has her birth control prescription called into a particular pharmacy. It can be refilled monthly by simply calling it in or automatically will be refilled as many stores now do. On Saturday, she goes in to pick up her latest prescription because she needs to start a new round that day. She gets to the store and Pharmacist Holy Roller decides he isn't going to sell the already filled prescription to her because he considers birth control immoral.

OK, she needs to be on that pill that day to stay on schedule. What the hell is she supposed to do? Her doctor likely can't be reached to call in a prescription elsewhere until at least Monday. And it's not like she can simply run across the street to another pharmacy and pick them up. (I know, many pharmacy chains have the ability to get prescriptions filled across town but what a hassle and isn't Pharmacist Holy Roller still sinning if he facilitates this?).

See, this isn't a matter to be taken lightly. Birth control regimens need to be followed strictly and having someone mess it up without warning is unconscionable.

Birth control is not new, it's been around for decades. Any one going into the pharmacy field has to know that a huge part of what they will be doing will involve birth control. If thay have moral problems with it, choose a new line of work. And for the recently converted pharmacist, hey, you opted to change your life, deal with the changes and find new work.