Opinion ID: 1147235
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: washington statutory law, regulation, and policy considerations require imposition of a pharmacist's duty to advise customers

Text: Two commentators in 1986 pharmacological literature identified Washington as a state that imposes a statutory duty on pharmacists to advise customers regarding prescriptive drugs. Brushwood & Simonsmeier, Drug Information for Patients, 7 J. Legal Med. 279, 302 (1986); Duckworth, The Potential Liability of Pharmacists Arising From Announcements of New Standards and Codes of Practice, 43 Food Drug Cosm. L.J. 1, 3 (1988). This should not be surprising given the definition of Practice of pharmacy as found in RCW 18.64.011(11), which provides: Practice of pharmacy includes the practice of and responsibility for : Interpreting prescription orders; the compounding, dispensing, labeling, administering, and distributing of drugs and devices; the monitoring of drug therapy and use; ... the providing of information on legend drugs which may include, but is not limited to, the advising of therapeutic values, hazards, and the uses of drugs and devices. (Italics mine.) The use of the phrase and responsibility for indicates this definition is more than merely descriptive, but also speaks to affirmative duties required of a pharmacist. RCW 18.64.005(11) [11] empowers the Washington State Board of Pharmacy to Promulgate rules for the dispensing, distribution, wholesaling, and manufacturing of drugs and devices and the practice of pharmacy for the protection and promotion of the public health, safety, and welfare. Violation of any such rules shall constitute grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of licenses or any other authority to practice issued by the board[.] (Italics mine.) The regulations adopted by the board are consistent with recognition of RCW 18.64.011(11) as imposing a duty to advise on the pharmacist.