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Emily's Story
Emily Jerry died after a pharmacy technician prepared her intravenous treatment with a 23% saline solution instead of less than 1%. more

"Emily's Law"

Emily's Law, introduced by Ohio Senator Tim Grendell, is not yet a law - it is a bill. This means that other Ohio Senators will be making changes to, and voting on, whether or not pharmacy technicians should be certified in Ohio. If you wish to review the working language of this bill, click here. Remember, the bill's language may change before it is reviewed by the Ohio Senate.

help pass Emily's law

Ohio Residents:
Two minutes of your time can save lives

July 9, 2007 -- Ohio Senator Tim Grendell, has introduced a bill dubbed "Emily's Law" to address the fact that Ohio has no regulations or state statutes regarding pharmacy technicians. In many states, a high school student can be employed as a pharmacy technician. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Grendell noted, “Barbers, bus drivers and beauticians have more training and qualification requirements than pharmacy technicians who insert medicine into the bodies of sick people."

the proposed law:
The proposed Ohio law requires pharmacy technicians to be trained, tested and certified by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Existing pharmacy technicians would have to pass a certification examination and all technicians would have to take continuing education courses. The proposed law also calls for one pharmacist to oversee no more than three technicians working in laboratories or pharmacies. Twenty-nine other states have passed similar prerequisites.

The Senate will review the bill after their summer break.

what you can do:
Voice your support for " Emily's Law" by writing letters to legislators, urging them to pass the law. Please take a moment to print and sign this letter (below), or to write a letter to your Senator urging them to pass "Emily's Law."

Below are some links to get you started.

e-mail your Senator

Please let your State Senator know that you want your pharmacy technicians to be licensed. Please click here to locate your Senator's e-mail address...

send this letter

flaame has prepared a generic letter to send to your Ohio Senator. Please take a moment to print this letter, sign and send...

click here to locate your Senator's mailing address...

the letter reads:

Dear Senator,

It has come to my attention that Senator Grendell has introduced a bill, “Emily’s Law,” which would require pharmacy technicians to be trained, tested and certified by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. I am writing in support of this bill, a measure similar to laws enacted in 29 other states.

I understand that existing pharmacy technicians in Ohio would have to pass a certification examination and all technicians would have to take continuing education courses. Furthermore, I understand that the proposed law also calls for one pharmacist to oversee no more than three technicians working in laboratories or pharmacies.

It is critical that the residents of Ohio be afforded competent healthcare. An important step is for us to assure that those dispensing medication to our friends and our families have a proven level of knowledge. I believe that certification and ongoing education will help improve healthcare for all of Ohio well into the future.

Thank you in advance for your support of this bill.

Regards,