Congress to Vouch for Women's Rights?

According to this CNN story, Congress is going to be considering a bill that would mandate that pharmacists fill legally-prescribed birth control (including the so-called 'morning after' pill) for women presenting said prescriptions. While one would think that the practice of providing medically necessary medications to patients on a doctor's orders would be standard fare for a pharmacist, it sadly isn't the case for many in this country.

Unfortunately Wisconsin is one of many states where incidents involving pharmacists refusing to provide rape victims with emergency contractption pills ordered by their doctors have occurred -- sometimes even confiscating the prescription to prevent them from filling it elsewhere! Why do they do this? The argument is that it violates their consience; birth control pills are a form of abortion, which they do not condone.

Such actions by pharmacists are unconscionable. While I believe it's fine (although utterly backward) for them to be morally offended over rape victims' refusal to bear their attacker's child, they should not be allowed to force their personal beliefs on the victims -- especially when oftentimes there is only a single pharmacy in an area capable of filling the prescription.

I'm glad to see that Congress is taking this action. It's a sad day to be in where we have to consider such legislation (and get the mini-civics lesson about how a Federal law can preempt a State law), but it's a Good Idea. I wonder about its chances for survival in today's Republican-dominated Federal government. I recommend writing your representatives about the issue if you feel strongly about it.