There are many legitimate Web sites offering medications, herbs,
supplements and even prescription drugs at discounted prices.
They often provide free information on interactions, alternative
treatments, dosages and side effects. Most are convenient, safe
and can save you money. But other sites victimize consumers with
unscrupulous practices. Problems with Web sites can range from
physicians prescribing drugs without ever meeting the patients,
to "businesses" taking the consumers' money, then never
delivering the goods. Buyers could also receive the wrong products
or, worse, contaminated products. Despite these risks, only 21
states have or are developing policies regarding Internet prescribing.
The American Medical Association (AMA) does target certain sites
as being unethical or unprofessional -- specifically, those that
do not require buyers to undergo physical exams. Instead, such
sites ask only that the patient fill in an online questionnaire,
which is then reviewed by a physician who prescribes a drug.
