(Released via the Internet by the Center for Telemedicine Law.)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to protect the American public against potentially useless or harmful drugs that treat anthrax infection which are being marketed by foreign web sites in defiance of United States laws. The FDA is warning U.S. citizens that foreign drugs promoted on the Internet may not be approved for marketing in this country and may not be legally imported. The agency is advising the U.S. Customs Service that shipments from certain identified vendors may be detained and refused entry. In addition, because an approved version of ciprofloxacin (Cipro) is manufactured and available in the U.S., personal importation of this drug is not permitted.
State medical boards are concerned that Internet interactions fall below the standard of care for prescribing medications unless there is an examination of the patient to determine if there is a medical problem and a specific diagnosis. Objections arise when the only medical history is obtained through a brief yes/no questionnaire and there is no follow-up to assess the therapeutic outcome of the prescription. Unnecessarily prescribing medications, particularly antibiotics, may prove to be detrimental to the American public. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised concerns over the increased resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. The unnecessary use of antibiotics, specifically the use of antibiotics that have been purchased without an appropriate exam, is of primary concern.
The sale of prescription drugs across the Internet will remain a concern of state and federal regulators, and both will assume an active role in the responsibility for public protection. CTL will continue to monitor this issue and will provide further alerts as necessary.
For further information, contact the Center for Telemedicine Law at (202) 775-5722.