Indiana Board of Pharmacy today voted to indefinitely suspend the license of NECC

Start Date: 11/5/2012 All Day End Date: 11/5/2012

inShare0 Entry Description INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Board of Pharmacy today voted to indefinitely suspend the license of the Massachusetts pharmacy connected to the meningitis outbreak. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office recently filed an emergency petition asking the Indiana Board of Pharmacy to suspend the license of the New England Compounding Center (NECC) which is based in Framingham, Mass. The company responded last week and agreed to the suspension. The board voted 7-0 today on the agreement for indefinite summary suspension during its scheduled meeting in Indianapolis. “The Attorney General’s Office will now move forward with filing a formal complaint with the Indiana Board of Pharmacy,” Zoeller said. “The board can then consider the case and determine the most appropriate discipline.” On Monday, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) confirmed 51 cases of fungal meningitis and four deaths in the state stemming from a tainted steroid injection produced by NECC. As a licensed non-resident pharmacy whose products are distributed and sold in Indiana, NECC is legally responsible for the “proper and safe storage and distribution of drugs and devices.” According to ISDH, there are now 1,502 people in Indiana who have been exposed to the contaminated medication through an epidural or joint injection. Patients exposed in Indiana have been contacted by their healthcare provider. In September, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration identified the NECC as the compounding pharmacy that produced the epidural steroid injections that caused the onset of meningitis in certain patients. Shortly after, NECC ceased production and initiated a recall of the drugs. As of Nov. 5, the CDC had indentified 404 cases of fungal meningitis and 29 deaths across 19 states stemming from NECC’s tainted steroid injections. The cause of contamination of the steroid injections is still under investigation. -30-

Contact Information: Name: Erin Reece Phone: 317.232.0168 Email: Erin.Reece@atg.in.gov

Indiana Board of Veterinary Examiners Statute and Administrative Rules Regarding Prescrptions

Indiana Board of Veterinary Examiners Statute and Administrative Rules, IC 25-38.1-4-5  Prescriptions,  provides:

     Sec. 5. (a) A licensed veterinarian may write prescriptions. Pharmacists shall give the prescriptions written by a licensed veterinarian the same recognition given the prescriptions of persons holding an unlimited license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine.
    (b) A valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship must exist before a licensed veterinarian dispenses or prescribes a prescription product.
    (c) Veterinary prescription products, including drugs and immunizing products restricted by state and federal law for use by licensed veterinarians, may not be diverted or transferred to an individual for use on an animal if there is not a current veterinarian-client-patient relationship with the original prescribing veterinarian.
    (d) If a veterinarian prescribes a drug for the client's animal, upon request, the veterinarian shall provide the prescription to the client, unless prohibited by state or federal law or to prevent inappropriate use.
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.58-2008, SEC.40.

To view the entire statute click here.

Rule 5. Standards of Practice

888 IAC 1.1-5-1 Standards of practice

Authority: IC 25-38.1-2-14; IC 25-38.1-2-23

Affected: IC 25-1-9

     Sec. 1. A veterinarian may be found guilty of the incompetent practice of veterinary medicine and may be disciplined under IC 25-1-9 if the veterinarian does any of the following:

          (1) Fails to maintain written animal health records as defined by section 2 of this rule.

          (2) Dispenses or prescribes drugs or therapy unless a veterinarian-client-patient

          relationship has been established.

          (3) Knowingly provides prescription drugs or access to prescription drugs for use other than

          in the proper course of veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

          (4) Performs a treatment or procedure that is beyond the skill or knowledge of the

          practitioner.

          (5) Permits, delegates, or requires an employed veterinarian to:

(A) improperly perform the duties of an accredited veterinarian; or

(B) perform services that would constitute a violation of standards provided by this

section.

(Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; 888 IAC 1.1-5-1; filed Apr 26, 1988, 2:10 p.m.: 11 IR 3046; filed Aug 11, 1989, 1:35 p.m.: 13 IR 86; filed Dec 27, 1993, 9:00 a.m.: 17 IR 1003; filed May 2, 2001, 10:05 a.m.: 24 IR 2707; readopted filed Jul 19, 2007, 12:53 p.m.: 20070808-IR-888070070RFA; filed Jul 31, 2009, 8:42 a.m.: 20090826-IR-888080679FRA)