WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor.

House Bill 619 would result in the lowering of the standard of
medical care for our citizens.

I believe that Maryland is able to attract and maintain such
world renowned medical institutions as John Hopkins and the
Wilmer Institute because we have established an environment that
fosters the highest standards of medical care for our citizens.
I believe we can continue to provide this high standard of
medical care only if the ophthalmological community works
together with the Board of Examiners in Optometry to assure that
patients receive the most appropriate and safe eye care.

For the above reasons, I have decided to veto House Bill 619.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

House Bill No. 619

AN ACT concerning

Optometry - Use of Topical Ocular
Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents

FOR the purpose of altering the definition of "practice
optometry" to include the use of drugs or medicine under
certain conditions; allowing certain optometrists to use
topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents under
certain circumstances; providing certain qualifications for
certification under this Act; establishing certain minimum
standards for certain education courses that meet the
requirements of this Act; creating certain restrictions on
the use of topical ocular diagnostic pharmaceutical agents
by certain optometrists; requiring the Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene to collect and report certain statistical
information; establishing certain duties for the Board of
Examiners in Optometry and the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene; and generally relating to the use of drugs
or medicine by licensed optometrists.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Health Occupations

Section 10-101(f)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1986 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

BY adding to

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