Legislation allowing conscientious objection for pharmacists introduced in about half of state legislatures this year; none were approved

Legislation that would have allowed pharmacists not to fill some prescriptions, such as emergency contraception, because of moral or religious objections were introduced in nearly half of the state legislatures in 2006, the Washington Times reports.

All of the bills stalled in committee, but advocates of the measures said they expect similar legislation to be filed in the future, Madeline Kriescher, a research analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said Tuesday.

Four states -- Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and South Dakota -- have enacted laws that allow pharmacists to deny certain prescriptions, according to the Times.

Groups that oppose abortion rights, such as Pharmacists for Life International and the American Life League, support such legislation, while the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and other groups that support abortion rights oppose it, according to the Times.

"This is definitely a hot-button issue for a lot of people ... it's pretty controversial, regardless of which side you are on," Kriescher said. PPFA recently launched an initiative called "Fill My Pills Now" that aims to overturn policies allowing pharmacist refusals.

The organization in an e-mail said Target, Walgreens and Winn-Dixie currently allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions.

Target on Tuesday said that their policy applies only to Barr Laboratories' EC Plan B and that their pharmacists must refer customers to someone who will fill such prescriptions.

Winn Dixie and Walgreen's staff could not be reached for comment, according to the Times (Howard Price, Washington Times, 8/23).