Sacramento - Legislation by Assemblywoman Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach) to require health care providers to ask patients if they want their prescription drug containers to include the drug's purpose on the labeling was approved on the Assembly Floor today. Assembly Bill 657 is a preventive measure aimed at reducing medication errors.

"Currently, it is not required that the purpose of the prescription drug be included on the container label. Most patients are unaware of their right to make such a request to their doctor," said Karnette. "If enacted, AB 657 could save lives and prevent medication errors."

Many prescription drugs have more than one use or purpose. Including the purpose for the prescription drug on the label will reduce the number of telephone calls to doctors and pharmacists requesting information about the purpose of the drug. Further, it will provide a check system between the doctor and pharmacist and prevent patients from taking the wrong drug if they are not certain about the specific purpose of the medication.

"This bill is not aimed only at Seniors, but it will be of particular benefit to individuals that take multiple medications. Including the drug's purpose on the label will provide greater clarity on the use of each and every drug the patient is prescribed. This bill is about prevention. There are many people that have medicine cabinets full of prescriptions and this bill is about preventing illness or even death due to medication errors," stated Karnette.

The Veteran's Administration pharmacy in Sepulveda, California currently requires their physicians to include the purpose of the medication on all prescriptions. The Food and Drug Administration has proposed bar coding prescription medications given in 47 hospitals across the United States in an effort to reduce medication error.

"This legislation requires health care providers to ask the patient if they want the purpose of the drug included on the container label. It is a simple step that makes sense," said Karnette.

Assembly Bill 657 is supported by AARP, Gray Panthers, and California Alliance for Consumer Protection, the California Pharmacists Association and others. The bill is sponsored by the California Senior Legislature.