RENTON, Wash. - It's a question of conscience and contraception:  Should pharmacists be allowed to deny women the "morning after" pill when they are morally opposed? 

The state's Board of Pharmacy is debating the issue.  The board could decide Friday whether or not pharmacists can be compelled to either fill a "Plan B" prescription or find another pharmacist who will.   

KING

The state Board of Pharmacy could decide Friday whether or not pharmacists can be compelled to either fill a "Plan B" prescription or find another pharmacist who will.

The board has already gotten over 21,000 comments on the issue; they heard many at a public hearing in Renton Thursday. A heavily anti-abortion crowd packed the Renton Community Center, determined to convince the state pharmacy board that pharmacists should be able to refuse to fill prescriptions for the Plan B contraceptive pill. 

"The patient has the right to conscience in front of the counter, but the pharmacist has no right to conscience behind it," said one attendee at the hearing. 

Plan B prevents ovaries from releasing an egg and can also stop a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.  Some pharmacists consider that an abortion and refuse to dispense the drug. 

Last year, pro Plan B supporters picketed a pharmacy that refused to stock it.   They say the pill actually prevents abortions.  Some say refusing to dispense the pill is dangerous on many levels. 

"If we're gonna say we can deny access to this drug what's to stop them from saying, 'I don't like gays, so I'm gonna give out drugs for HIV treatment because that's a gay disease," said another attendee at Thursday's hearing. 

The board will meet again Friday.  They could adopt the rule that would require pharmacists to either fill the prescription or find a pharmacist who will. Still they could amend the rules or delay taking action.