Pharmacists who refuse to dispense Plan B, the so-called morning-after pill, are being targeted by a bill introduced Wednesday in the U.S. House and Senate. The Access to Birth Control Act – the ABC Act – would force pharmacists either to dispense the controversial drug or face up to a $500,000 fine.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.
Some pharmacists have refused to give out Plan B because it sometimes can cause an early abortion. Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, said medical professionals should have the right to opt out.
“It makes no sense to require that pharmacists have to hand over drugs without using their professional judgment," she told Family News in Focus. "Pharmacists are respected professionals, they are not vending machines.”
Planned Parenthood and NARAL back the bill, claiming that pharmacists jeopardize women’s health and safety by refusing to dispense Plan B. Karen Brauer of Pharmacists for Life International said the pro-abortion groups are placing their agenda ahead of pharmacists' judgment.
“Planned Parenthood is out to increase its own business," she said. "They are going to trash the health of Americans.”
Joe Giganti, a columnist for Renew America, called the ABC bill outrageous, at best.
“The concept of forcing a pharmacy and a pharmacist to prescribe something that goes against their moral and scientific beliefs is as un-American as one can be.”
(Paid for by Focus on the Family Action)
