Vet Legislation


UN-known risks are UN-acceptable!
and in Pennsylvania there is new legislation for the well being of our companions, so we can be made aware of possible risks.

It took some effort (letters and phone calls) and a lot of persistence

With support from all of us, and effort and persistence, this can be put thru in every state!

For further detailed information for the FDA docket or http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/04n0559/04N-0559_emc-.pdf

 

Pennsylvania Senate Bill (Client Information Sheets) and (Pre-screening)

INTRODUCED BY STACK, BROWNE, FONTANA, RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA, COSTA AND FERLO, MARCH 20, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------

REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 20, 2006

(1144) AN ACT

Amending the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326),
entitled "An act regulating the practice of veterinary
medicine and imposing penalties," further providing for definitions.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3(15) of the act of December 27, 1974
(P.L.995, No.326), known as the Veterinary Medicine Practice
Act, amended December 9, 2002 (P.L.1370, No.167), is amended and
the section is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
Section 3. Definitions.--As used in this act:

(15) "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" means a
relationship satisfying all of the following conditions: (i) the
veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making
veterinary medical judgments regarding the health of an animal
and the need for veterinary medical treatment, and the client,
owner or caretaker of the animal has agreed to follow the

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

instructions of the veterinarian; (ii) the veterinarian has
sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a
general, preliminary or tentative diagnosis of the medical
condition of the animal; (iii) the veterinarian is acquainted
with the keeping and care of the animal by virtue of an
examination of the animal or medically appropriate and timely
visits to the premises where the animal is kept; (iv) the
veterinarian is available for consultation in cases of adverse
reactions to or failure of the regimen of therapy; (v) the
veterinarian maintains records on the animal examined in
accordance with regulations established by the board[.]; and
(vi) the veterinarian provides a client information sheet to the
owner of the animal in cases of dispensing prescription drugs
that will be administered by the owner in an outpatient setting.
(16) "Client information sheet" means a paper required by
the Center for Veterinary Medicine of the Food and Drug
Administration for the purpose of communicating important risk
information to clients and that is given to a veterinarian by a
prescription drug manufacturer so that owners of an animal are
provided with vital product safety information including
precautions, contraindications, signs of a possible adverse
reaction, and steps to take in the event of an adverse reaction
to the prescription drug.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.


A6L63DMS/20060S1144B1612 - 2 -

 (1145)AN ACT

Amending the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326),
entitled "An act regulating the practice of veterinary
medicine and imposing penalties," further providing for disciplinary proceedings.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 21(11) of the act of December 27, 1974
(P.L.995, No.326), known as the Veterinary Medicine Practice
Act, amended December 9, 2002 (P.L.1370, No.167), is amended to
read:
Section 21. Grounds for Disciplinary Proceedings.--The board
shall suspend or revoke any license or certificate or otherwise
discipline an applicant, licensee or certificate holder who is
found guilty by the board or by a court of one or more of the
following:
* * *
(11) Incompetence, gross negligence or other malpractice, or
the departure from, or failure to conform to, the standards of

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

acceptable and prevailing veterinary medical practice, in which
case actual injury need not be established. Failure of a
licensee to perform prescreening of an animal, such as
conducting a blood test, prior to use of a drug, if the
prescreening is recommended by the drug manufacturer, may be
evidence in a disciplinary action at the discretion of the
board. The board may consider the withholding of consent for any
prescreening by the animal owner.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.


L7L63BIL/20060S1145B1613 - 2 -

Here is a link the members of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee:



Here is a link to the names and addresses of the Senate leaders:

 

 

Letters

Critter Fixer Pet Hospital
Bob Rogers DVM

5703 Louetta Spring, Texas 77379

April, 24, 2006

Dear Senators, Representatives, and members of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee:

As both a pet owner and a Veterinarian, I am writing to strongly urge you to support both Senate Bill #1144 and Senate Bill #1145.

In the last eight years thousands of dogs have died each year from the misuse of new arthritis medicines for dogs. About a third of the deaths are due to over-dosage by Veterinarians, about a third are from Veterinarians prescribing the drugs in patients that have a pre-existing condition where the drug is contraindicated, and about a third of the deaths are form Veterinarians prescribing combinations of drugs that are contraindicated when used together.

Why do Veterinarians make so many mistakes? Because they don’t read the client information sheets that come with the drugs. They only listen to the sales representative tell them how safe the drugs are.

Pet owners are entitled to have the same disclosure information accompanying veterinary drugs that they receive with human prescriptions; enabling them to recognize any adverse side affects and seek immediate, appropriate medical intervention. If veterinarians were required to provide these sheets to their clients maybe they would take the time to read them themselves.

Veterinarians who fail to perform the drug manufacturer's recommended prescreening of an animal prior to administration, over does the drugs, or use combinations that are contraindicated should be legally subject to potential disciplinary action by the State Veterinary Board under the Veterinary Medical Practice Act.

The Veterinary Pharmaceutical industry does not tell Veterinarians the whole truth when marketing their drugs.

If veterinarians are not required to give clients disclosure sheets with the veterinary drugs they dispense, pet owners will be unable to recognize life-threatening side affects in their beloved companions. Passing this legislation mandating disclosure information accompany dispensed veterinary drugs will mean that ALL pet owners in Pennsylvania will be entitled by law to receive this vital information from their veterinary care providers.

Passage of this legislation will save the lives of many pets who your constituents love very much.

Sincerely,

Bob Rogers DVM

 

April 25, 2006

Greetings Senators, Representatives, and members of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee:

As a pet owner, I am writing to strongly urge you to support both Senate Bill #1144 and Senate Bill #1145. Pet owners are entitled to have the same disclosure information accompanying veterinary drugs that they receive with human prescriptions, enabling them to recognize any adverse side affects and seek immediate, appropriate medical intervention. Veterinarians who fail to perform the drug manufacturer's recommended prescreening of an animal prior to administration should be legally subject to potential disciplinary action by the State Veterinary Board under the Veterinary Medical Practice Act.

Two years ago, my 6 year Labrador Retriever, Meadow, underwent two significant surgeries relating to an aggressive cancer he developed at the site of a rabies vaccination. After his second surgery, his veterinarian sent him home with pain medication containing no information other than the drug name (Rimadyl) and dose frequency. Fortunately, an e-mailed announcement of the Rimadyl lawsuit settlement arrived just before Meadow was due for his first dose. After educating myself about the potentially deadly side affects associated with Rimadyl, I opted to forego the medication and avoid the risks, my dog had enough challenges to face with cancer.

The veterinary pharmaceutical industry recognizes the importance of drug disclosure information for pet owners. The following link for the veterinary drug, Rimadyl,
http://www.rimadyl.com/display.asp?country=US&lang=EN&drug=RC&species=CN&sec=610 will take you to the Dog Owner Information warning of potential adverse reactions and contraindications from the drug manufacturer, Pfizer, and state: "This summary contains important information about Rimadyl. You should read this information before you start giving your dog Rimadyl and review it each time the prescription is refilled."

If veterinarians are not required to give clients disclosure sheets with the veterinary drugs they dispense, pet owners will be unable to recognize life-threatening side affects in their beloved companions. Passing this legislation mandating disclosure information accompany dispensed veterinary drugs will mean that ALL pet owners in Pennsylvania will be entitled by law to receive this vital information from their veterinary care providers. Another benefit to passing these bills will be that of alleviating veterinarians of potential liability for failure to perform prescreening or give disclosure information to a pet owner whose animal suffers a significant adverse reaction under their care. Passage of this legislation will benefit both pet owners and veterinarians -- it is reasonable and responsible.

Sincerely,

Kris L. Christine
Alna, ME 04535

 

Dear Senator,

I am writing to request your support for some very important legislation contained in Senate Bill 1144.

The issue is very simple. The nation's experts in veterinary drug safety at the federal Food and Drug Administration have determined that the safety of a select group of drugs depends upon owners being given critical safety information on the use of these drugs. The FDA has found that veterinarians are not providing these federally-mandated Client Information Sheets with the result that thousands of companion animals are needlessly harmed, many dying as a result of improper use of these drugs.

SB1144 amends the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326), entitled "An act regulating the practice of veterinary medicine and imposing penalties" and has been referred to the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee for consideration. The amendment simply requires what federal law already mandates, that "(vi) the veterinarian provides a client information sheet to the owner of the animal in cases of dispensing prescription drugs that will be administered by the owner in an outpatient setting."

I sincerely hope that you will join with Senators Stack, Browne, Fontana, Rafferty, Boscola, Costa and Ferlo in supporting this vital legislation that will literally save the lives of thousands of companion animals and spare thousands more needless suffering by providing owners with basic information on the safe use of these drugs.

If you have any questions about this legislation, I will be happy to provide you with further details and background information.


Sincerely,

Ed Murray

 

I am writing to you in an effort to encourage you to support both Senate Bill 1144 and Senate Bill 1145.

When pharmacists fill prescriptions for humans they provide the patient with information about the prescribed drugs. It enables the patient to immediately recognize adverse side effects and know when to seek medical attention. I believe it should be mandatory for Client Information Sheets to be dispensed with veterinary medications so pet owners will be able to recognize the symptoms of an adverse reaction.

When the product manufacturers recommend prescreening those veterinarians who fail to do so are jeopardizing lives and should be subject to stern disciplinary action. Dispensing Client Information Sheets and prescreening can save the lives of our beloved pets / companions. Pet owners pay for veterinary services with expectations of obtaining professional and competent medical care for their pets.

I was forced to euthanize a wonderful dog three years ago and I still live with the guilt because I gave him a drug without knowing the symptoms of an adverse reaction. I was not given a Client Information Sheet. Apparently my vet wasn’t very knowledgeable about the drug either because he assured me that the drug could not cause the symptoms my dog displayed. If my vet or I had read the Client Information Sheet we would have known not to administer that drug to my dog because of his liver condition and we would have easily been able to identify his symptoms as a severe adverse reaction to the drug. Instead, I was instructed to continue administering the drug.

Before any pet is medicated every possible measure should be taken to ensure that the medication is safe for that pet and the pet owners need to be aware of the possible adverse effects. They must know the symptoms and be able to identify the problem so they can react quickly. The vet or pet owner’s ignorance of the subject could be fatal to the pet.

If the majority of vets were performing their professional duties and informing clients of these potential dangers I don’t believe pet owners would feel the need to implement, encourage or support this type of legislation.

Again, I ask that you please support SB 1144 and SB 1145 and I ask that you encourage support from others as well. Your support of this bill could save many lives.

Sincerely,
Deborah Odom
Florida

 

The Food and Drug Administration has determined that select drugs can only be used safely when patients and owners are provided with critical information on the safe use of the drug. For humans, this information is provided in the form of a Medication Guide. The veterinary equivalent is known as the Client Information Sheet.

Owners of pets who have suffered adverse reactions to veterinary drugs have reported to the FDA that they were not provided Client Information Sheets by their veterinarians. For the past six years, owners have appealed to state veterinary boards to mandate that vets provide this critical information to owners to no avail. Similarly hundreds of complaints have been filed against vets for not providing owners with Client Information Sheets and not one case has said that this was required.

To remedy this situation in Pennsylvania, Senators Stack, Browne, Fontana, Rafferty, Boscola, Costa and Ferlo have introduced legislation mandating that veterinarians provide clients with Client Information Sheets for the drugs that have them.

It is anticipated that similar legislation will be introduced in most other states over the next few months.

Detailed background on this legislation is available at:

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/04n0559/04N-0559_emc-.pdf

Ed Murray