Gavin
January 26th, 2004, 11:15 AM
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<TD class=TD1>Contact: Cori Zywotow Rice/Wendy Lester
Hill and Knowlton/SAMCOR
(305) 443-5454
wendy@samcor.net
cori@samcor.net</TD></TR></T></TABLE></DIV></TD></TR>
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<TD class=TD2 align=middle height=60>ONLINE PRESCRIPTION PHARMACY WINS STATE COURT BATTLE;
VALIDATES CONFIDENTIAL, ONLINE PHYSICIAN/PATIENT INTERACTIONS
Judge confirms the appropriateness of online pharmacy in RX Network case </TD></TR>
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MIAMI, FL (Jan. 13, 2003) - Florida Administrative Law Judge Daniel Manry, of the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, has ruled in favor of RX Network, one of the fulfilling pharmacies for South Florida-based Internet company, USA Prescription, Inc. The Judge's ruling, that the Company is operating within the parameters of the law, clears the way for the pharmacy to continue filling online prescriptions. The 90-page Recommended Order was published after a year-long legal battle between RX Network and the Florida Department of Health.
"This is a groundbreaking ruling," RX Network's attorney, Miami-based Sean Ellsworth said. "For the first time, a judge has confirmed the fact that online physician/patient interactions, and the prescriptions that are generated by those interactions, are legal."
In four separate administrative complaints, encompassing 27 separate counts, Judge Manry ruled in favor of RX Network on 26 of 27 counts. In the only count that was ruled a violation, Manry sorted through thousands of prescriptions, and found that 24 of the prescriptions were prescribed in excessive quantities. Ruling that the violations were "not intentional or willful," Manry recommended the Company be fined $24,000 and put on probation for one year, the minimum penalty allowed by law.
"The Internet and e-commerce have applications in healthcare that are beneficial for consumers today and in the future," said CEO Vincent Chhabra. "We have always been committed to providing these services within the parameters of the law." Chhabra, 31, has been at the forefront of emerging healthcare issues, and is a staunch advocate for patients' rights to privacy, convenience and choice.
The number of Americans who are already taking control of their healthcare is growing every day, with more than 80% of Internet users in the U.S. currently utilizing the Web to research health-related issues. More than ever, individuals are using the Internet to obtain medications commonly prescribed for the treatment of ailments such as hair loss, sexual dysfunction, birth control and weight control. Although these drugs are crucial to a patient's well being, patients are often too embarrassed to discuss these types of problems with their local physician or neighborhood pharmacist. RX Network is one of many pharmacies that fill prescriptions based upon valid physician/patient relationships utilizing the Internet. As with all physician/patient interactions, the patient is required to provide true and complete medical information to the prescribing physician.
"This has been a long process, but one that reaffirms the appropriateness of the way RX Network operates," Ellsworth said. "Despite the State's overzealous attempt to stop Internet medicine, RX Network has succeeded in proving that the method in which they conduct business is appropriate and legal."
Ellsworth also stated that the Company is looking into recovering the cost of litigation by seeking attorney's fees from the state of Florida.
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