CHAPTER 23. DRUGS: USE OF AMYGDALIN (LAETRILE)
IC 16-42-23
Chapter 23. Drugs: Use of Amygdalin (Laetrile)
IC 16-42-23-1
Health care facilities; restrictions on use
Sec. 1. Except as provided in section 8 of this chapter, a hospital
or other health care facility may not interfere with the
physician-patient relationship by restricting or forbidding the use of
amygdalin (laetrile) as an adjunct to recognized, customary, or
accepted modes of therapy in the treatment of any malignancy,
disease, illness, or physical condition if the following conditions
exist:
(1) Amygdalin (laetrile) is prescribed or administered by a
physician holding an unlimited license for the practice of
medicine in Indiana.
(2) The patient has signed the "written informed request" as set
forth in section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.
IC 16-42-23-2
Disciplinary action against attending physician
Sec. 2. A physician may not be subjected to disciplinary action by
the medical licensing board of Indiana for prescribing or
administering amygdalin (laetrile) to a patient under the physician's
care as an adjunct to recognized, customary, or accepted modes of
therapy in the treatment of a malignancy, a disease, an illness, or a
physical condition if the patient has signed the written informed
request as set forth in section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.
IC 16-42-23-3
Prescription or administration permitted with written informed
request
Sec. 3. A physician may prescribe or administer amygdalin
(laetrile) instead of or in addition to customary or accepted modes of
therapy in the treatment of a malignancy, a disease, an illness, or a
physical condition of a patient who has signed the written informed
request as set forth in section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.
IC 16-42-23-4
Construction of chapter
Sec. 4. (a) This chapter does not constitute an endorsement of
amygdalin (laetrile) for the treatment of a malignancy, a disease, an
illness, or a physical condition.
(b) This chapter does not prevent a physician from prescribing
amygdalin (laetrile) as a dietary supplement to a patient not suffering
from a known malignancy, disease, illness, or physical condition
upon execution of the written informed request.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.
IC 16-42-23-5
Written informed request form
Sec. 5. (a) The written informed request must be on a form
prepared by and obtained from the medical licensing board of
Indiana and must be in substance as follows:
WRITTEN INFORMED REQUEST
FOR PRESCRIPTION OF AMYGDALIN
(LAETRILE) FOR MEDICAL
TREATMENT
Patient's name __________________________
Address _________________________________
Age ________ Sex ___________
Name and address of prescribing physician
_________________________________________
Malignancy, disease, illness, or physical condition diagnosed for
medical treatment by amygdalin (laetrile) or the use of amygdalin
as a dietary supplement:
________________________________________
________________________________________
My physician has explained the following to me:
(1) That the manufacture and distribution of amygdalin
(laetrile) has been banned by the Federal Food and Drug
Administration.
(2) That neither the American Cancer Society, the American
Medical Association, nor the Indiana State Medical Association
recommend use of amygdalin (laetrile) in the treatment of a
malignancy, a disease, an illness, or a physical condition.
(3) That there are alternative recognized treatments for the
malignancy, disease, illness, or physical condition from which
I suffer that my physician has offered to provide for me,
including the following:
(Here describe)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Notwithstanding this explanation, I request prescription and use
of amygdalin (laetrile):
(1) in the medical treatment of the malignancy, disease, illness,
or physical condition from which I suffer ( ); or
(2) as a dietary supplement ( ).
(Check (1) or (2))
________________________________________
Patient or person signing for patient
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Prescribing physician
(b) A copy of the written informed request shall be forwarded
after execution to the medical licensing board of Indiana for
appropriate filing.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.
IC 16-42-23-6
Regulation of use, sale, prescription, manufacture, or distribution
within state
Sec. 6. (a) Amygdalin (laetrile) is not a drug or a controlled
substance under Indiana statutes governing the use, manufacture, or
distribution of drugs and controlled substances within Indiana.
(b) A physician may prescribe amygdalin (laetrile) under this
chapter as a treatment that may be prescribed under
IC 25-22.5-1-1.1(f).
(c) The state department and the Indiana board of pharmacy may
regulate the manufacture, distribution, and sale of amygdalin
(laetrile) for use within Indiana only to ensure that the substance is
not adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of IC 16-42-3.
(d) The state department may not adopt a rule that prohibits the
use of amygdalin (laetrile) in a hospital, an ambulatory outpatient
surgical center, or a health care facility licensed by the state
department.
(e) The Indiana board of pharmacy may not adopt a rule that
prohibits the manufacture, distribution, or sale of amygdalin (laetrile)
by a person or in any place licensed by the Indiana board of
pharmacy.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.
IC 16-42-23-7
Required manufacture, sale, distribution, or prescription
Sec. 7. (a) This chapter does not require a:
(1) physician;
(2) pharmacist;
(3) pharmacy;
(4) manufacturer; or
(5) distributor;
to manufacture, sell, or distribute amygdalin (laetrile).
(b) This chapter does not require a physician to prescribe
amygdalin (laetrile) for a patient.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.
IC 16-42-23-8
Federal funding of health care facilities
Sec. 8. If:
(1) the federal government indicates that the federal government
will withdraw all federal funds from a health care facility for
allowing amygdalin (laetrile) to be used within the facility; and
(2) providing or allowing use of amygdalin (laetrile) within the
facility would jeopardize the receipt of:
(A) federal funds for reimbursement for Medicare or
Medicaid for all persons within the facility; or
(B) construction funds provided by the federal government
under the Hill-Burton Hospital Construction Program (42
U.S.C. 291 et seq.) or under Title XVI of the Public Health
Services Act (42 U.S.C. 300q-300t);
the hospital or other health care facility may prohibit the use of
amygdalin (laetrile) within the hospital or facility.
As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.