(a) The following terms shall have the following meanings when used in this section:

(1) “Drug” means (A) articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them; (B) articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in man or other animals; (C) articles, other than food, intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or any other animal; and (D) articles intended for use as a component of any articles specified in this subdivision; but shall not include devices or their components, parts or accessories;

(2) “Licensed practitioner” means a person licensed by the state of Connecticut, any other state, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and authorized to prescribe medication within the scope of his practice; and

(3) “Drug record” means a record maintained pursuant to this chapter or chapter 400j, 417, 418 or 420c of drug ordering, drug distribution, receipt of drugs, storage of drugs, disposition of drugs, and orders of drugs issued by a licensed practitioner for a patient.

(b) In lieu of maintaining written drug records required by state or federal law to be kept in the state, such records may be created and maintained on electronic data processing systems or other electronic media systems. If a conflict exists between maintaining a written drug record and maintaining an electronic drug record, the written drug record shall be maintained.

(c) Electronic identifiers, including, but not limited to, electronic codes or signatures, voice prints, retinal prints or handprints may be substituted in lieu of required written signatures or initials.

(d) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing the use of electronic data processing systems or other electronic media systems for maintaining drug records. No such electronic data processing system shall be implemented prior to the adoption of these regulations.

(P.A. 93-98; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 09-22, S. 4.)

History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Consumer Protection with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 09-22 redefined “drug record” and made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2009.