Emergency contraception pharmacy bill killed in Arizona
PHOENIX A bill in Arizona to let pharmacists refuse to provide emergency contraception if doing so conflicts with their moral or religious beliefs has been vetoed. Governor Janet Napolitano says pharmacies and other health care providers "have no right to interfere with the lawful personal medical decisions made by patients and their doctors."
Supporters of the bill are disappointed. Three Catholic bishops considered it civil rights legislation for health care professionals and institutions.
But Napolitano -- who supports abortion rights -- noted the bill was opposed by groups representing pharmacists, hospitals and nurses.
In Wisconsin, a pharmacist who refused to fill a prescription for birth control pills, or transfer it to another pharmacy, was hit with sanctions by a state board. The board said the pharmacist was obligated to direct the customer to a pharmacy that would fill the prescription.
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