Profession
FSMB supports Internet legislation
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 12, 2004
The Federation of State Medical Boards recently voiced strong support to a congressional committee for federal legislation that would protect consumers from dangerous Internet drug prescribing practices.
Federation president and CEO James N. Thompson, MD, testified before the House Government Reform Committee. He said the bill, the Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, was needed to protect the public from online pharmacies and physicians who indiscriminately prescribe drugs without establishing a physician-patient relationship.
In 2002, the federation adopted as policy the "Model Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of the Internet in Medical Practice." The guidelines are available on the federation's Web site (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/04/12/prbf0412.htm.
