The Push for Bilingual Prescription Labels in California

The California Board of Pharmacy (Board), which regulates approximately 6,500 community pharmacies and 500 hospital pharmacies statewide, and over 140,000 entities holding pharmacy licenses, is currently considering new regulations that would require all pharmacies in California to provide translated labels on prescription bottles. With an estimated 44% of all Californians speaking a language other than English at home, the proposed regulations seek to make it easier for non-English speakers to properly take their medications and avoid potential fatal medication errors.

Many pharmacists, however, believe the current system is working. Telephonic translation services for limited English speakers assist in providing these patients with instructions on prescription drug use. With this service, the limited English speaking customers can hear the instructions and also order a fax of the translation. Additionally, the Board includes translations of basic instructions in five languages, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese, on its website.

Ultimately, most California pharmacists do not feel comfortable dispensing medications in a language they do not understand. California pharmacists remain weary of the proposed legislation because of the potential liabilities involved with making mistakes in translation and the potential increases in malpractice insurance. The pharmacists feel the potential for error outweighs the potential gain for patients receiving medication in a translated form and question whether a pharmacist will be held liable if the pharmacist verifies a prescription where the label is translated into Chinese, or another foreign language, but the instructions were ultimately found to be incorrect and the transcription error results in patient harm?

Proponents of the push to allow translations on prescription labels, say the concerns about the label changes and related costs are outweighed by the problems limited English speaking patients currently face under the status quo.

While the Board discussions are still in the early stages, many specific details would need to be worked out prior to the regulations become final.