When it's an emergency, you just can't wait

In 2005, Illinois Governor Blagojevich stepped into the emergency contraception debate. Around the country and even in blue-state Illinois, women were being denied access to EC and in some cases, they had their prescription slips taken away. Gov. Blagojevich took women's side and said that prescriptions for contraceptives must be filled without delay. Anti-choice pharmacists took issue and said that the rule made them violate their beliefs and filed suit.

On October 11th, a "compromise" was settled on:

Illinois pharmacies must fill prescriptions for Plan B and other emergency contraceptive pills "without delay," as Gov. Rod Blagojevich decreed in 2005. But individual pharmacists who believe dispensing the pills would violate their religious beliefs don't have to get involved. Instead, the customer can receive the medication from the pharmacy owner or another employee after an off-site pharmacist approves the prescription by phone or fax.

Womenstake points out that this compromise is exactly what the rule was before hand. There is a difference between a pharmacy and a pharmacist. It's just too bad that we didn't have a ruling akin to the recent victory in Connecticut.

One thing is certain: Planned Parenthood will always be a place where you can access birth control and especially emergency contraception without delay. For people over 18, you should be able to access EC over the counter at your local pharmacy. Those under 18 still need a prescription.

While this ruling sounds like it only affects emergency contraception, we know that there are times when women get the run around when filling every day birth control. In either situation, if you are in a situation where you can't get your prescription filled, please, please, please report it. Just call 800-280-4149. You can see what your rights are on the State of Illinois Dept of Financial & Professional Regulations site. NOTE: that link is to a PDF document.

I think the NOW campaign logo says it all.


technorati tags: Planned Parenthood Aurora, EC, birth control, Morning After Pill, Illinois, Emergency Contraception, Walgreens