Bill would empower pharmacists to take anti-abortion stand

<p>Pharmacists who oppose abortion on moral or religious grounds would have new protections as part of proposed state legislation if they refuse to give out emergency contraceptive drugs.</p><p>Freshman Sen. Jim Whitehead's bill filed Thursday that would make the pharmacists immune from lawsuits or disciplinary action by employers.</p><p>Plan B contraceptives can prevent a pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. The drug works like birth control pills, by preventing ovulation, or fertilization and implantation of an egg.</p><p>Some pharmacists have refused to dispense the medication because they believe it acts like an abortion.</p><p>Last year in Texas, an Eckerd drugstore fired a pharmacist for refusing to sell Plan B to a rape victim.</p><p>Whitehead said some pharmacists in his Augusta-area district asked him to push the legislation.</p><p>"We're just trying to protect some pharmacists who feel the way we do as far as having to issue the contraceptive pill that have Christian values that want to stand up against abortion," said Whitehead (R-Evans).</p><p>Pharmacists in Georgia already may refuse to fill a prescription on any grounds, said Flynn Warren, a University of Georgia professor and chairman of the Georgia Pharmacy Association's board.</p><p>Warren said pharmacists should give the prescription back to the patient and offer suggestions on how to get it filled elsewhere.</p><p>Leola Reis, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Georgia, said the legislation would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.</p><p>"A physician has seen fit to prescribe medication that a pharmacist is refusing to make available to a woman," Reis said. "It's restricting access to medication that can ultimately reduce the need for abortion."</p><p>Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), one of the bill's co-sponsors, said he has concerns about the drug RU486, which causes abortion once a pregnancy is confirmed. The bill does not specify RU486 but instead refers to "emergency contraceptive" drugs.</p><p>A Planned Parenthood fact sheet notes that there is "considerable public confusion" over the difference between emergency contraception provided by Plan B and medical abortion provided by RU486. Reis said RU486 was administered by abortion providers, not pharmacists.</p><p>Mary Boyert, director of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta's pro-life office, said the church would most likely support the proposed legislation.</p><p>"We have generally supported the ability of those who are in the medical industry whether it be doctors, nurses or others to have a conscience clause, so to speak," said Boyert.</p><p>Boyert said the Catholic church would consider Plan B to work as an abortion if it stopped pregnancy once the egg had been fertilized.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2865338)</p>