By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Walgreen's said Tuesday it had put four pharmacists in Illinois on unpaid leave for refusing to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception.
Their refusal stems from a relatively new rule in Illinois, first imposed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, that requires pharmacies that sell FDA-approved contraceptives to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control. Pharmacies that don't fill prescriptions for any type of contraception aren't required to follow the rule.
Ed Martin, an attorney for the four, called the discipline "pretty disturbing" and says the pharmacists would consider legal action if Walgreen doesn't reconsider.
Walgreen spokeswoman Tiffani Bruce says the four cited religious or moral grounds and would like to maintain their right to refuse to dispense.