Contents - Volume 7, No. 3

Reregulation of Hypodermic Syringes and Needles

Recently, the NYS legislature passed a bill that amends Section 3381 of the Public Health Law regarding a patient's access to hypodermic syringes and needles. The bill describes that pharmacies, health care facilities and practitioners may distribute these devices under certain circumstances. The law is to take effect on January 1, 2001.

Medication Errors and Corporate Liability

The third in a series of continuing education articles, this reviews the concept of respondeat superior, the responsibility on the business for the negligent acts of its employees. Legal cases involving pharmacists are discussed further defining cooperate negligence and its to risk management.

What's New

Selected NYS legislative bills are highlighted and explained along with the appropriate Assembly and Senate code numbers.

Continuing Education for Pharmacists

The phase-in period for mandatory continuing education has ended. This article explains pharmacists' responsibilities with regard to educational requirements.

Mailbag

• What are the requirements for a pharmacist who is returning to practice after allowing his registration to be terminated?
• What happens if a pharmacist has not complied with the mandatory CE credits?
• What are the regulations concerning physicians dispensing samples directly to the patient in a staff-model managed-care facility?
• I am planning to complete a nontraditional Pharm.D. Program in the future. Are there allowances for continuing education when a pharmacist is taking classes at the university level?
• Can an optometrist write prescriptions for Phase II agents, such as beta-blockers, alpha agonists and direct-acting cholinergic agents?
• When the new ONYSRx single blanks are issued, will they be refillable?