THE MOSES H. COWB MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
MEMORANDUM
TO: Medical Board
FROM: Pharmacy Committee
DATS: October 4, 1954
RE: Generic Nomenclature
The seventeenth meeting of the Pharmacy Committee was held 21
September 1954 at 7:30 p.m. in the Medical Library. As requested
by the Medical Board, in its letter of June 9* 1954, the Committee
considered the problem of official terminology for medications in
the Hospital. Excerpts of the minutes covering this discussion
follow.
"It was pointed out that the policy of the Hospital, established by
the Medical Board on recommendation by this Committee, which requires
all drugs to be identified only by their official or generic names, has
lead to a considerable amount of confusion and dissatisfaction anions
members of the Medical Staff and Hospital personnel. There is the
possibility that continuation of this purported confusion may result
In an unnecessary and unreasonable hazard to the patient. On the other
hand, it was pointed out that the Hospital derives an important advantage by the continued use of generic names, especially in procuring
drugs, and avoiding unnecessary duplications of the same basic drugs.
After some further discussion and on motion by Dr. Sparrow, seconded
by Dr. Clary, it was
VOTED: to recommend to the Medical Board the following:
1. that either generic or proprietary terminology may be
used for any designation of a drug In the Hospital;
2. that the Pharmacy Department be authorized to furnish
a medication from Its inventory having the same generic
title as that ordered;
3. that the Pharmacy Department be instructed to label the
drug dispensed by both its generic name and the proprietary
name used in its order. If thelatter differs from the
proprietary name of the Item stocked., then the proprietary
designation Is to be prefaced by the expression "same as*.
4. that the Pharmaey Department be authorised to label a proprietary item which has no proprietary counterpart by its
proprietary name alone;
THE MOSES H. COWB MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
MEMORANDUM
TO: Medical Board
FROM: Pharmacy Committee
DATS: October 4, 1954
RE: Generic Nomenclature
The seventeenth meeting of the Pharmacy Committee was held 21
September 1954 at 7:30 p.m. in the Medical Library. As requested
by the Medical Board, in its letter of June 9* 1954, the Committee
considered the problem of official terminology for medications in
the Hospital. Excerpts of the minutes covering this discussion
follow.
"It was pointed out that the policy of the Hospital, established by
the Medical Board on recommendation by this Committee, which requires
all drugs to be identified only by their official or generic names, has
lead to a considerable amount of confusion and dissatisfaction anions
members of the Medical Staff and Hospital personnel. There is the
possibility that continuation of this purported confusion may result
In an unnecessary and unreasonable hazard to the patient. On the other
hand, it was pointed out that the Hospital derives an important advantage by the continued use of generic names, especially in procuring
drugs, and avoiding unnecessary duplications of the same basic drugs.
After some further discussion and on motion by Dr. Sparrow, seconded
by Dr. Clary, it was
VOTED: to recommend to the Medical Board the following:
1. that either generic or proprietary terminology may be
used for any designation of a drug In the Hospital;
2. that the Pharmacy Department be authorized to furnish
a medication from Its inventory having the same generic
title as that ordered;
3. that the Pharmacy Department be instructed to label the
drug dispensed by both its generic name and the proprietary
name used in its order. If thelatter differs from the
proprietary name of the Item stocked., then the proprietary
designation Is to be prefaced by the expression "same as*.
4. that the Pharmaey Department be authorised to label a proprietary item which has no proprietary counterpart by its
proprietary name alone;
