Bill would affect Plan B

By Carolina Astrain

Published Feb. 22, 2008

With ongoing debate in Missouri and nationwide regarding abortions, Missouri legislators have made efforts to define contraceptives such as Plan B as a form of abortion.

A bill filed in the Missouri House would give pharmacists the right to refuse distribution of Plan B, commonly called the morning-after pill, according to what is monument morally and monetarily.

“The motivation behind this bill is protecting our business people, as well as our pharmacist from being forced to make certain business decisions against their will,” said Rep. Edgar Emery, R-Lamar, who sponsored the bill.

Plan B is an emergency contraceptive that has recently become available over the counter. Plan B is only effective if it is taken within 72 hours of insemination.

Emery said that in Illinois some of the reproductive-rights advocacy groups have sued to force all pharmacies to carry whatever “abortive-type” drugs are needed. Emery said the legislation is virtually a tort reform bill and a small business protection bill in reaction to those lawsuits.

“This is especially important in our rural areas, where there’s virtually no demand for these contraceptives,” Emery said. “Without this bill, pharmacies there would have to continue to stock these drugs and periodically destroy them. Hospitals and doctors are protected by law to refuse patients these drugs and so are most of the health care professionals, but there is no protection for pharmacists.”

Emery said he wants to protect pharmacists from organizations such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri.

“When a doctor prescribes medication, he or she expects it to be filled without discrimination or delay,” Planned Parenthood lobbyist Michelle Trupiano said. “Pharmacists should not impose their moral judgment and should not step between the doctor and patient.”

NARAL executive director Pamela Sumner said the main problem with the bill is that it confuses Plan B with RU-486, also known mifepristone.

Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid compound that causes abortion in the first two months of pregnancy and can only be dispensed at a doctor’s office for emergency abortions.

Sumner said a pharmacist has a duty to dispense medication that is in stock.

“If a physician has written an order for emergency contraception or Plan B, that pharmacist should fill that order or find another line of work,” she said.