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US Attorney General issues legal warning to online pharmacies

By Joey Gardiner

Published: Thursday 16 December 1999

Michigan State Attorney General, Jennifer M. Granholm, has this week threatened to file lawsuits against ten online pharmacies for selling prescription drugs without authorised medical diagnoses.

Granholm said the companies are trading without a local Michigan licence required by state law and described them as "no better than the street corner drug pusher - all they're interested in is the money".

The Attorney General initiated legal proceedings after investigators posed as consumers and bought a variety of prescription drugs without prescriptions.

The companies are accused of giving surfers the false impression that diagnoses via the Web sites are a replacement for a doctor's examination and prescription.

Dr Michael Sinclair, a partner at IT law firm, Tarlo Lyons, said the case highlights the difficulties of conducting ecommerce in highly regulated industries.

He said Internet companies need to work harder to make sure they comply with regulations, and added: "These companies must do their homework before they set up - otherwise they'll get sued."