ANALYSIS OF HOUSE BILL 2798

  Requiring that prescriptions be printed, typed, or computer generated.

Health Care Committee                          February 1, 2000

Washington State House of Representatives

SPONSORS:  Representatives Lambert and Campbell.

BRIEF SUMMARY

!It is unprofessional conduct for a prescribing health care practitioner to issue a prescription that is not printed, typed, or computer generated.

BACKGROUND:  The Uniform Disciplinary Act provides procedures and sanctions for disciplining health care practitioners regulated by the Department of Health for specified acts of unprofessional conduct.

There are expressed concerns about the illegibility of prescriptions issued by some prescribing health care practitioners that can lead to errors in filling prescriptions.  These errors can and have resulted in risks to the health and safety of patients.

SUMMARY:  A prescribing health care practitioner who issues a prescription that is not printed, typed, or computer generated commits an act of unprofessional conduct under the Uniform Disciplinary Act.