Bill Introduced in Senate To End Illegal Online Sales of Prescription Drugs
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) on Thursday introduced a bill that would "crack down" on illegal prescription drug sales by online pharmacies, Copley/San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The bill, called the Ryan Haight Act, is named after a California teenager who died in February 2001 from an overdose of medication that he purchased from an online pharmacy. The legislation would:
- Mandate that online pharmacies cannot distribute prescription drugs to consumers based only on a questionnaire;
- Allow state prosecutors to pursue charges against online pharmacies suspected of illegal activities regardless of whether they are based in different jurisdictions; and
- Require online pharmacies to identify to consumers their business, pharmacists and physicians.
Under the bill, consumers with valid prescriptions could continue to purchase prescription drugs from online pharmacies. Feinstein said that the legislation would target an estimated 500 "rogue pharmacies" that operate online. "The growing abuse of prescription drugs, coupled with the ease of access to the Internet, has led to an environment where illegitimate pharmacy Web sites are bypassing regulations governing the sale of prescription drugs," Feinstein, said, adding, "With a credit card and a computer, consumers can get prescription drugs without the existence of a bona fide physician-patient relationship, which can pose an immediate threat to public health and safety" (Copley/San Diego Union-Tribune, 5/21).
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