We have just received a letter from Pharmacists for Life International, urging Idaho lawmakers to enact HB216 before leaving town. The letter challenges many of the spurious charges leveled by Planned Parenthood and their allies.

In particular, the Executive Director, Dr. Bo Kuhar, was clearly agitated by suggestions that passage of conscience protections would somehow jeopardize patient health:

“PFLI has followed developments in Boise with great interest … .This amounts to the usual scare tactics employed by those who object to pharmacists who have a conscience sticking by their sincerely held religious, moral and ethical principles,” he writes.

This esteemed organization has been active on behalf of pharmacists across the U.S. and Canada.

Dr. Kuhar, it turns out, has a special interest in our Idaho work because he received his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree at ISU in Pocatello. He has been in the profession for some 31 years.

“I want to convey to members of the Idaho Legislature that pharmacists of conscience are guided by a strong commitment to the moral and ethical standards which inform and guide our practice based on the traditional, authentic Hippocratic Oath we took upon graduation,” he continues in the letter.

Dr. Kuhar concludes his letter by expressing hope that Idaho “will take this moment to strengthen protections for pharmacists who have a conscience. If it does so, I believe [the People of Idaho] will reap the benefit of improved health care for many years to come….”

With the session still knotted-up over transportation funding, there is plenty of time for the Idaho Senate to pass HB216 yet this session. Please take a moment to call Sen. Bob Geddes (208-332-1300) or Sen. Bart Davis (208-332-1305) and urge them to help us with HB216.

And, as always, your prayer support is heartily welcome.