Push for Mandatory CIS! From: Tim Jordan Dear Mel, A lot has happened since the death of our girl "Geneva" on April 19th and I thought you and your readers would like to know what we have been doing here in Florida to help spread the word about "Previcox" and other pet drugs. First, I contacted the FDA-Center for Veterinary Medicine to find out "Why" there was not a mandatory requirement for veterinarians to provide the "Client Information Sheet" (CIS) and to advise clients of the adverse effects the drug can have. The response I received clearly states that the FDA requires the drug companies to provide that information to the veterinarians, which they are doing, BUT the FDA says it can not require the veterinarians to do so and that it is each state's responsibility to make requirements on the vets in their state. So, I contacted all 50 states to see if that in fact was being done. Of the 30 responses I have received so far, NO state requires that the "Client Information Sheet" be given to the client, and only one state - Nevada - requires that the client be told of the adverse effects as they have adopted the AVMA principles of veterinary medical ethics. This is a national problem because it is apparent that state veterinarians do not provide this information even though they are receiving the information from the drug companies. Second, I wrote a letter to the members of the Florida State Board of Veterinary Medicine asking that they adopt a policy, rule, or law making it mandatory that the (CIS) be given to the client and the client be advise of the adverse effects the drug can have. The board met in June, but could not discuss this issue at that meeting as it was not on the published agenda as required by Florida law. My request and this issue WILL BE ADDRESSED at the next meeting, which is the 1st of September 2009 and I will be attending that meeting to hear what is discussed and to address the board if necessary. Third, I contacted the largest TV station in my area to see if they would do a story about what happened to our girl "Geneva" and to help get the word out. Channel 6 TV, Orlando sent out a news reporter and camera crew and my wife and I had a 2 1/2 hour interview which will be aired on the news in a couple of months. The news staff really felt that this was a very interesting consumer report/issue and felt the word needs to be spread about this.
Finally, I contacted one of my State
Senators to see about having a bill introduced to make it
mandatory that veterinarians
So Mel, as you can see, us finding your website has helped spread the word about the unnecessary deaths of our beloved family members "Rowdy" and "Geneva" and hopefully will save the lives many others - I know it will here in Florida. To anyone who happens to contact you from your website or you are in contact with, I suggest the following:
In closing let me thank you once again on your website and all that you have done to help spread the word. Nothing that any of us do today will bring back our cherished K9 friends, but the actions we take today can and will save others from going through the pain we experienced - and to my wife and I, it is worth all our efforts. Please feel free to pass on my name, email address and phone number to anyone who may want to contact me. Sincerely, Tim Jordan See Tim & Mihee's news video about their dog Geneva: http://www.clickorlando.com/video/21467902/index.html?taf=orlpn |