H 3414 General Bill, By Hosey, Alexander, R. Brown, Clyburn, Jefferson, 
Mitchell, Spires and Williams
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 3
 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 40 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY LICENSED HEALTH CARE
 PRACTITIONER AUTHORIZED TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS MUST WRITE SUCH PRESCRIPTIONS
 IN LEGIBLE WRITING IN TERMS THAT CAN BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE PERSON FOR WHOM THE
 PRESCRIPTION IS WRITTEN.

   02/01/07  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   02/01/07  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-5

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 40 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER AUTHORIZED TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS MUST WRITE SUCH PRESCRIPTIONS IN LEGIBLE WRITING IN TERMS THAT CAN BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE PERSON FOR WHOM THE PRESCRIPTION IS WRITTEN.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 40-1-410.    (A)    A health care practitioner licensed pursuant to this title who is authorized to write prescriptions shall write such prescriptions in a manner that is legible and in terms that can be understood by the patient or the patient's caregiver.

(B)    A health care practitioner who does not comply with subsection (A) is subject to a fine of one hundred dollars to be imposed by the practitioner's licensing board for each noncomplying prescription written by the practitioner."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect three months after approval by the Governor.