In the Internet age, there are many opportunities to buy prescription drugs online. If you have a valid prescription from your doctor, you can often find good prices by "surfing the Net."

There are, however, unscrupulous Web sites that are offering drugs to people without a prescription. The American Medical Association (AMA) recently said, "A prescription that results from little or nothing more than filling out an online form is a serious and dangerous corruption of what medicine should be about."

AMA is considering these guidelines to address the issue:

• Online doctors must be licensed in the area where the patient lives.
• A doctor who prescribes medication on the Internet should have a reliable medical history for the patient.
• The doctor should perform or have documented an adequate physical examination for the patient.
• The doctor should have sufficient dialogue with the patient about the treatment options and risks and should follow up with the patient to assess the outcome of the treatment.
• A proper medical record should be maintained.
• The Internet site should provide identifying information about the physician, including licensure information.

Many state medical boards have begun cracking down on sites that do not follow procedures such as the above, with lawsuits, fines and sanctions. In California, the state Board of Pharmacy recently levied an $88.7-million fine against a Los Angeles area pharmacy for selling drugs to people without requiring a doctor's examination. California law requires a medical examination by a doctor licensed in the state before a prescription can be filled.

Taking prescription medications prescribed by someone who is not familiar with your health conditions and other medications can be dangerous.

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Sources:

• AMA. Online Rx: be careful with Web prescriptions. American Medical News, May 13, 2002.
• White RD. State seeks to find online pharmacy. Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2002, p. C1 & C11.