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In May 2005 my professional career as a community pharmacist in the state of Illinois took a dramatic change. I worked for a retail grocery store chain which included a pharmacy for almost 20 years. Following Gov. Blagojevich executive order which forced pharmacies to dispense emergency contraception (Plan B), my practice of pharmacy was forced to change by an action which contradicted the State of Illinois Conscience law. For a year following the executive order I worked to over turn the action in the courts in Illinois. I was blocked from doing so because I had not experienced a consequence of the action. I eventually had to leave the State of Illinois and leave community pharmacy practice because of the inability to exercise my conscience rights. Many of my fellow pharmacists in Illinois were fired and after 4 years are still fighting legal battles in the courts. All this despite the law in Illinois protecting health care professionals. Please protect medical professionals from having to violate their conscience in order to practice in their chosen professions.
Sincerely,
David L Scimio RPh.
David S.
Murrysville, Pennsylvania
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