Alabama § 34-23-11 - Physicians, Dentists, Registered Nurses, Etc., Exempt from Chapter.

§ 34-23-11. Physicians, Dentists, Registered Nurses, Etc., Exempt from Chapter.

(a) Nothing contained in this chapter shall prevent any licensed practitioner of the healing arts from personally compounding, dispensing, administering, or supplying to his or her patient drugs and medicines for their use. This chapter shall not apply to the manufacture or sale at wholesale or retail of patent or proprietary medicines as purchased from a manufacturer or wholesaler, or to the manufacture or sale at wholesale or retail of packaged, bottled, or nonbulk chemicals, medicines, medical and dental supplies, cosmetics, and dietary foods when identified by and sold under a trademark, trade name, or other trade symbol, privately owned or registered in the United States Patent Office, sold or offered to be sold to the general public, if the article meets the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act other than prescription legend drugs.

(b) A registered nurse in the employment of the State Health Department or a county health department may, in the provision of health care services, dispense legend drugs as provided in this section under the standing orders or direct supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state and pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Pharmacy and implemented by a pharmacist licensed to practice pharmacy in this state. The nurse may dispense the legend drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, hypertension, and other programs if approved by the State Board of Pharmacy. The dispensing of the drugs shall meet all labeling, packaging, recordkeeping, and counseling requirements of a prescription. The Board of Pharmacy shall have the responsibility to inspect the site where the dispensing occurs. The authority granted to a registered nurse pursuant to this subsection shall not apply to controlled substances as defined in Chapter 2 of Title 20.