Pharmacists reach for Plan B

The state Board of Pharmacy's ruling that pharmacists cannot stand in the way of a patient's right to get a prescription brings to a welcome end a political fight disguised as morality.

The cadre of druggists arguing for months that they have the right to refuse to fill prescriptions they morally disagreed with were simply tools in the debate over abortion rights. While the pharmacists spoke of "prescriptions," it was obvious they had had only one prescription in mind, the emergency contraception known as Plan B. It is a high dose of the drug found in some birth-control pills. Some pharmacists argued that its use is tantamount to abortion. What those pharmacists think about emergency contraception was not, and is not, important. They fulfill a critical public role and shouldn't be allowed to shirk their duty. Kudos to the state board for its unanimous vote pointing this out.

Certainly, the threat from Gov. Christine Gregoire to replace board members helped spur a change of heart. That's fine. Whatever helped move this debate along, it resulted in a positive shift from last year when the state board appeared to be leaning in support of the rogue pharmacists.

Moving forward, pharmacists with personal objections to a drug must get a co-worker to fill the order. Failing that, they are duty-bound to fill it themselves. Bottom line: A patient must be able to get her prescription filled in the same pharmacy visit.

The Plan B debate was a prime example of politics' intrusion into medicine. Good to know cool heads on the pharmacy board were able to rebuff it.