“A prescription means a written order [– by or on behalf of] – a person in the legal exercise of medicine.” 20 L.P.R.A. § 382 (Ley Num. 282 del 15 de mayo del 1945, Sec. 3). Under the most likely interpretation of the existing version in Spanish, the meaning of the term “person” signifies a class of persons who are the recipients of the drugs.

“A Tribunal can revoke the license of a physician that employs or delegates the authority to unauthorized persons to perform acts that can only be legally executed by authorized persons in the practice of medicine.” 20 L.P.R.A. § 52 (Ley Num. 22 del abril de 1931) Art. 17(e)(9).

“The doctor should obtain verbal and written informed consent for the patient prior to the provision of services.” Article 8 P. del S. 612 Ley 227, 1998.

EPT is potentially allowable.

The need to obtain verbal and written informed consent suggests that a physician does not need to perform a physical exam prior to issuing a prescription. Statutory ambiguities suggest that the recipient of a prescription may include a patient’s partner. At the same time, statutory authority prohibits the delegation of tasks reserved to individuals licensed to practice medicine.