ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 503

(4) (I) WHEN A PRESCRIPTION IS WRITTEN, A HEALTH PRACTITIONER
AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO PRESCRIBE A DRUG SHALL:

1. PRINT OR TYPE THE PRESCRIPTION IN A LEGIBLE
MANNER SO THAT IT CAN BE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BY THE PHARMACIST FILLING
THE PRESCRIPTION;

2. INDICATE ON THE PRESCRIPTION;

A. THE DATE OF ISSUANCE, WITH THE MONTH STATED IN
TEXTUAL LETTERS;

B. THE NAME OF THE AUTHORIZING PRESCRIBER;

C. THE NAME AND STRENGTH OF THE DRUG, WITH THE
STRENGTH WRITTEN IN METRIC UNITS;

D. THE QUANTITY OF THE DRUG IN BOTH TEXTUAL AND
NUMERICAL FORMATS;

E. THE DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE DRUG;

F. THE REASON FOR PRESCRIBING THE DRUG; AND

G. FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 12, THE AGE AND WEIGHT OF
THE CHILD; AND

3. SIGN THE PRESCRIPTION ON THE DATE THAT THE
PRESCRIPTION IS ISSUED.

(II) WHEN A PRESCRIPTION IS WRITTEN, A HEALTH PRACTITIONER
AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO PRESCRIBE A DRUG MAY NOT.

1. USE LATIN OR APOTHECARY ABBREVIATIONS;

2. USE LEADING ZEROS BEFORE A DECIMAL POINT FOR
NUMBERS LESS THAN ONE;

3. USE TRAILING ZEROS AFTER A DECIMAL POINT FOR
WHOLE NUMBERS; AND

4. ABBREVIATE THE NAME OR STRENGTH OF A DRUG.

(4) A PRESCRIPTION SHALL BE LEGIBLE.

(c) A pharmacist may not refill and dispense a prescription unless the refilling
is authorized by:

(1)     The health practitioner's specification in the original prescription as
to how many times it may be refilled; or

(2)     [By an] AN oral order of the health practitioner that promptly is
written out and filed by the pharmacist.

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