Contraceptive rights backed
The Cincinnati Enquirer (Ohio)
September 27, 2006 Wednesday
Final Edition
Quan Truong Enquirer staff writer AVONDALE - A young woman was turned down by every pharmacy she visited in Columbus for four hours before finding one that would fill her prescription for an emergency contraceptive. That was one of many stories Kellie Copeland, executive director of Naral Pro-Choice Ohio, shared Tuesday night. The national organization advocates for reproductive rights and contraception. "The fear, the feeling of being degraded and being judged - I think we can do better," Copeland said of nationwide issues over contraceptives. Copeland and two other speakers said it is generally legal for pharmacists to turn away a customer with a prescription for contraceptives by citing personal beliefs. It is also acceptable for insurance companies to limit or exclude coverage for contraception. These things should be changed, the speakers said at Tuesday night's meeting at the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati. Along with state Rep. Tyrone K. Yates, D-Evanston, and Dr. Michael Thomas, a physician and professor at the University of Cincinnati, the speakers discussed the Ohio Prevention First Act, a bill designed to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies by requiring insurance plans to cover prescription contraceptives. It would also take away pharmacists' ability to turn away customers, increase access to emergency contraceptives and launch pregnancy-prevention programs for teens. E-mail qtruong@enquirer.com
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