The blog has now reached over 127,000 views. The blog is close to having folks in 100 countries reading it. And soon the 4000th blog entry will be added. The blog has been called the "gold standard" in compounding resources. Pharmacy board members have written to tell me they suggest all the board members read the blog and some have implemented some of the suggested changes such as adding people other than pharmacists to their boards.
Congress continues to search for answers to the compounding problems as do a number of states. I don't think anyone wants to see compounding go away or people to lose their right to use compounded medications. That is a falsehood spread for whatever reason. The face of compounding may change, who is allowed to compound may change, new rules and regulations in some states have already changed, most likely there will be federal legislation passed this term--who knows what shape or form it will take-is anybodies guess. I still advocate that we are all entitled to our own views as to should have ultimate jurisdiction. As I have said before, I try very hard to present all views and if nothing else, to make people think...to challenge...them to come up with arguments for or against a position. I hope that we are all still search for the same thing: a better safer compounding world.
As I have also said before, I do not allow ads on the blog. I love hearing from the readers whether it is a comment posted or a private email. There are a couple of questions I want to respond to. First, I do not take cases in this area nor do I do referrals to other attorneys or law firms nor have I during any of the time I have written this blog. Second, some wonder if "pharmacists" are family members? I guess that depends on how broadly one defines "family." No, not in my immediate family, but yes, Becky Thomasson, is a pharmacist and she is a distant relation to me. She is my cousin's aunt, and she is my friend as are other pharmacists.
Third, and probably the most frequent common question comes in many forms but ultimately relates to why I do the blog. Did I have a relative or loved one die or suffer an illness as a result of a bad compound? No. I did not. Have I ever had a pet die from a bad compound? Not that I know of...but I will probably never know the answer to that. I have had pets that were received compounded medications Who knows what the impact was. At the time, I wasn't educated enough in the area to even know what questions to ask of my vet. So why do I do the blog? I have mentioned before that in my former life I was the Appellate Chief for the United State's Attorney's Office. I followed a lot of appellate cases and did a lot of research on federal and state jurisdiction. I knew of the Franck's case but not necessarily how truly important that case was beyond federal jurisdictional issues. Through a friendship, I later learned of the importance of the legal issues surrounding compounding and the entire area intrigued me, and the idea of the blog was born because it rolled almost all my passions into one--helping people, medicine, law, animals, and humans, federal and state jurisdiction, and research and writing. At the time I really did not know if anyone would read the blog or have any long term plans for it It was just going to be something that I did in my spare time--and it still greatly is just that. I eventually had the idea to do the 101 series and the Question of the Day because there seemed to be more questions than answers in the compounding world.
There are so many people at this point who help me with comments, ideas, issues, discussions and support, I hate to name anyone for fear of leaving someone out. You know who you are. Most of you wish to remain nameless and take no credit anyway when in truth YOU deserve all the credit. Thanks to all of you.
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