Ohio Code 3701.048 – Protocols for the administration of drugs in a declared emergency
(A) As used in this section:
Terms Used In Ohio Code 3701.048
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Physician assistant: means an individual who is licensed under Chapter 4730 of the Revised Code to provide services as a physician assistant to patients under the supervision, control, and direction of one or more physicians. See Ohio Code 1.64
- Rule: includes regulation. See Ohio Code 1.59
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(1) “Board of health” means the board of health of a city or general health district or the authority having the duties of a board of health under section 3709.05 of the Revised Code.
(2) “Controlled substance” has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.
(3) “Drug,” “dangerous drug,” and “licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs” have the same meanings as in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code.
(4) “Registered volunteer” has the same meaning as in section 5502.281 of the Revised Code.
(B) In consultation with the appropriate professional regulatory boards of this state, the director of health shall develop one or more protocols that authorize the following individuals to administer, deliver, or distribute drugs, other than schedule II and III controlled substances, during a period of time described in division (E) of this section, notwithstanding any statute or rule that otherwise prohibits or restricts the administration, delivery, or distribution of drugs by those individuals:
(1) A physician authorized under Chapter 4731 of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery;
(2) A physician assistant licensed under Chapter 4730 of the Revised Code;
(3) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed under Chapter 4715 of the Revised Code;
(4) A registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723 of the Revised Code, including an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined in section 4723.01 of the Revised Code;
(5) A licensed practical nurse licensed under Chapter 4723 of the Revised Code;
(6) An optometrist licensed under Chapter 4725 of the Revised Code;
(7) A pharmacist or pharmacy intern licensed under Chapter 4729 of the Revised Code;
(8) A respiratory care professional licensed under Chapter 4761 of the Revised Code;
(9) An emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic who holds a certificate to practice issued under Chapter 4765 of the Revised Code;
(10) A veterinarian licensed under Chapter 4741 of the Revised Code.
(C) In consultation with the executive director of the emergency management agency, the director of health shall develop one or more protocols that authorize employees of boards of health and registered volunteers to deliver or distribute drugs, other than schedule II and III controlled substances, during a period of time described in division (E) of this section, notwithstanding any statute or rule that otherwise prohibits or restricts the delivery or distribution of drugs by those individuals.
(D) In consultation with the state board of pharmacy, the director of health shall develop one or more protocols that authorize pharmacists and pharmacy interns to dispense, during a period of time described in division (E) of this section, limited quantities of dangerous drugs, other than schedule II and III controlled substances, without a written, oral, or electronic prescription from a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs or without a record of a prescription, notwithstanding any statute or rule that otherwise prohibits or restricts the dispensing of drugs without a prescription or record of a prescription.
(E) On the governor’s declaration of an emergency that affects the public health, the director of health may issue an order to implement one or more of the protocols developed pursuant to division (B), (C), or (D) of this section. At a minimum, the director’s order shall identify the one or more protocols to be implemented and the period of time during which the one or more protocols are to be effective.
(F)(1) An individual who administers, delivers, distributes, or dispenses a drug or dangerous drug in accordance with one or more of the protocols implemented under division (E) of this section is not liable for damages in any civil action unless the individual’s acts or omissions in performing those activities constitute willful or wanton misconduct.
(2) An individual who administers, delivers, distributes, or dispenses a drug or dangerous drug in accordance with one or more of the protocols implemented under division (E) of this section is not subject to criminal prosecution or professional disciplinary action under any chapter in Title XLVII of the Revised Code.