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§ 2546 § 2547 § 2548 § 2549 § 2550

TITLE 24

Professions and Occupations

CHAPTER 25. PHARMACY

Subchapter VI. Prohibited Acts; Penalties Generally; Enforcement

§ 2546. Use of certain descriptive titles.

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit the use of the phrase "proprietary medicine store," "patent medicine store," or "health and beauty aids." (Code 1915, § 872; 32 Del. Laws, c. 45, § 2; Code 1935, § 952; 24 Del. C. 1953, § 2581; 68 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 1.)

§ 2547. Entry and inspection; penalty.

A person who commits the offense of hindering in any manner an entry or inspection under § 2534 or § 2544 of this title may be fined not more than $500 for each incident. (Code 1935, § 956D; 41 Del. Laws, c. 87, § 5; 24 Del. C. 1953, § 2585; 68 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 1.)

§ 2548. Jurisdiction.

Justices of the peace have jurisdiction over violations of this chapter.

34 Del. Laws, c. 71; Code 1915, § 874A; Code 1935, §§ 955, 956E; 41 Del. Laws, c. 87, § 6; 46 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 24 Del. C. 1953, § 2586; 49 Del. Laws, c. 220, § 27; 68 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 423, § 23; 76 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 1.;

§ 2549. Substitution of drugs.

(a) When a pharmacist receives a prescription drug order from a practitioner for a brand or trade name drug, the pharmacist may dispense a therapeutically equivalent drug if the following conditions are met:

(1) The practitioner, in the case of a written prescription, places that practitioner's own signature on the signature line along side or above the words "substitution permitted" pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; or, in the case of a verbal prescription or a verbal prescription reduced to writing, the practitioner states that the substitution may be made; or, in the case of an order written in an institution licensed by the Department of Health and Social Services pursuant to Chapter 10 or Chapter 11 of Title 16, the practitioner has given written authorization to fill all prescription drug orders with therapeutically equivalent drugs unless otherwise indicated;

(2) The pharmacist informs the patient or the patient's adult representative that a therapeutically equivalent drug has been dispensed;

(3) The pharmacist indicates on the prescription and on the prescription label the name of the manufacturer or distributor of the therapeutically equivalent drug substituted unless the practitioner indicates otherwise.

(b) Unauthorized dispensing of a therapeutically equivalent drug in violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 or by a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 days nor more than 1 year, or both a fine and a term of imprisonment.

(c) Every prescription written in this State by a practitioner must be on a prescription form containing a line for the practitioner's signature. Alongside or beneath the signature line the words "Substitution Permitted" must be clearly printed. Beneath the signature line the following statement must be clearly printed: "In order for a brand name product to be dispensed, the prescriber must handwrite "Brand Necessary' or "Brand Medically Necessary' in the space below." A second line to accommodate the above-mentioned wording must be provided beneath the statement. Prescription forms containing the appropriate signature line and statement must be used by every practitioner in this State who prescribes drugs.

24 Del. C. 1953, § 2589; 53 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 33; 60 Del. Laws, c. 330, §§ 1-3; 62 Del. Laws, c. 161, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 48, §§ 1, 2; 65 Del. Laws, c. 378, § 5; 68 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 216; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 311, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 1.;

§ 2550. Emergency refills of noncontrolled drugs.

(a) A pharmacist may dispense an emergency supply of a noncontrolled drug to a patient whose refill authorization has expired if:

(1) The supply dispensed is the minimum needed for the emergency period;

(2) The pharmacist has attempted to reach the prescribing practitioner and has determined that the prescribing practitioner is not available;

(3) The medication is, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, essential for the continuation of therapy for a chronic condition; and

(4) The prescription was originally dispensed at the pharmacy.

(b) If a pharmacist dispenses an emergency supply of a noncontrolled drug pursuant to subsection (a) of this section:

(1) The refill date, quantity dispensed, and pharmacist's initials must appear on the patient profile; and

(2) The prescribing practitioner must be notified either in writing or verbally about the pharmacist's action, and the date of the notification must be documented on the patient profile.

(c) A prescription may be refilled with an emergency supply pursuant to this section only 1 time.

68 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 1.;