Pennsylvania proposal to enforce drug-risk disclosure

HARRISBURG, PA.— Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering tough legislation mandating drug-risk disclosure and prescreening animals prior to pharmaceutical use if recommended by a drug maker.

Pennsylvania bills, S.B. 1144 and S.B. 1145, were introduced by Sen. Michael J. Stack "to provide greater disclosure and protection to pet owners."

Both bills were referred to the state's Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. This legislation likely won't take flight "anytime soon," reports Dr. Michael Moyer, chair of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association's legislative committee.

Instead, large-scale statewide issues like gambling and property tax relief will trump Pennsylvania's legislative agenda this election year, he believes.

"We have some concerns with the language. All of the issues underneath it are well within the scope of the regulatory process. The state board of veterinary medicine is well equipped to take on all these issues," Moyer contends.

S.B. 1145 amends the state's veterinary practice act and also calls for disciplinary proceedings if a veterinarian fails to pre-screen an animal prior to use of a drug as recommended by a pharmaceutical manufacturer. "The veterinarian board may consider the withholding of consent for any prescreening by the animal owner when determining if a veterinarian should be disciplined."

The second piece of legislation, S.B. 1144, would require veterinarians dispense client information sheets detailing potential adverse drug events prior to a drug's administration.

"Client information sheets are dispensed with each package of prescription drugs sold to veterinarians. Client information sheets are produced for drugs that could seriously or fatally harm animals," Stack writes in a memorandum to other Pennsylvania senators.

Stack introduced the legislation at the request of a constituent who lost her dog to a lethal interaction with the popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Rimadyl. The animal's veterinarian allegedly did not offer an adverse event information sheet or take blood tests prior to prescribing the drug.

— By Daniel R. Verdon, Editor; reported by Jennifer Fiala, Senior Editor