SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A group of pharmacists asked the Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday to throw out a rule that forces them to dispense emergency contraception despite moral objections, claiming it amounts to illegal coercion.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued the rule in spring 2005, prohibiting pharmacies from turning away women seeking emergency contraception. The medicine is a higher dosage of typical hormonal contraception which, if taken within three days of having sex, greatly reduces the chance of pregnancy.