07 LC 33
2116S
COMMITTEE
OF CONFERENCE SUBSTITUTE TO SB 17:
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 30 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to optometrists, so as to provide for additional pharmaceutical agents which may
be used by a doctor of optometry for treatment purposes; to provide for a
standard of care; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
30 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
optometrists, is amended by revising subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of Code
Section 43-30-1, relating to definitions, as follows:
"(D)
Pharmaceutical agents which are used by a doctor of optometry for treatment
purposes and administered orally may only be:
(i)(I)
Nonnarcotic oral analgesics and Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled
substances which are oral analgesics;
(ii)(II)
Used for ocular pain; and
(iii)(III)
Used for no more than 72 hours without consultation with the patient´s
physician;
or
(ii)
Oral and topical antibiotics, antivirals, topical steroids, antifungals,
antihistamines, or antiglaucoma agents related to the diagnosis or treatment of
diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi except Schedule I or
Schedule II controlled substances. Doctors of optometry using such oral and
topical pharmaceutical agents shall be held to the same standard of care imposed
by Code Section 51-1-27 as would be applied to a physician licensed under
Chapter 34 of this title performing similar acts; provided, however, that a
doctor of optometry shall not be authorized to treat systemic
diseases."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.