Profession
Arizona board to consider Internet prescribing policy
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 26, 2006
The Arizona Medical Board on June 8 approved creating a subcommittee to draft an Internet prescribing policy that would clarify what is and is not allowed, and inform citizens about the hazards of obtaining prescription drugs over the Internet.
The board, which licenses and regulates more than 18,000 allopathic physicians, has disciplined physicians for prescribing drugs over the Internet without first establishing doctor-patient relationships. Also, board members agreed that there is misunderstanding and confusion about Internet prescribing among the general population.
In 2002, the Federation of State Medical Boards issued guidelines saying it is unacceptable to write Internet prescriptions based solely on an online questionnaire or consultation.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/06/26/prbf0626.htm.