02:04 PM CST on Sunday, December 18, 2005

By Dave Fehling / 11 News

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The controversy over birth control has now made its way to pharmacists.

Some are allegedly refusing to fill prescriptions for the so-called morning-after pill because of their personal religious beliefs.

Angie, a Houston college student, said she ran into trouble earlier this week trying to get a prescription filled.

'It’s your plan B is what its called," Angie said.

Plan B is the brand name the extra-strength birth control pills that, if taken within 72 hours of intercourse, usually prevent pregnancy.

But when she went to pick up her prescription, no luck.

"It was 'we don't have it, that's it, good luck," Angie said.

She said she went to a pharmacy inside of a Target.

"I find out that they have a policy where their pharmacy could even outright refuse to fill your prescription," Angie said.

She wasn't the only one with the complaint.

Planned Parenthood of Houston picketed a Target near the Galleria, alleging that pharmacists who are religiously opposed to birth control are refusing to fill prescriptions for the Plan B pills.

"Kmart, Costco and CVS have changed their discriminatory polices, and what we're trying to do is draw this attention to Target,” said Peter Durkin with Planned Parenthood.

Spokespeople for Target said it is true that their pharmacists are allowed to refuse to fill prescription for Plan B.

But they said if tha’ts the case, another pharmacist or another Target store is supposed to fill it. It’s a nationwide controversy.

In Denton, Texas, last year Eckerd's fired a pharmacist who, for religious reasons, refused to give morning-after pills to a woman who said she'd been raped.

One state, Illinois, has made it illegal for pharmacists to refuse.

The issue may become moot if the Federal government gives final approval to a proposal to make the pills for sale over-the-counter.