# Quick Q: Is it legal for my mother to buy Vioxx online from a Canadian supplier? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2002, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074 "2002-04-11T18:46:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/1 "2002-04-11T18:46:24Z")
Never paid much attention to the “ins and outs” of the whole “Mexican fatburner” debate, but suddenly it’s relevant, as my sister wants our mother to order Vioxx from [canadapharmacy.com](http://canadapharmacy.com). There’s no particular reason Sis picked this particular website, other than the fact that it popped up during a Google search. [http://www.canada-pharmacy.com/](http://www.canada-pharmacy.com/) [http://www.azmedstore.com/vioxx.html](http://www.azmedstore.com/vioxx.html) So, is this “legal”? Or is it “inadvisable”? Or “slightly shady”, and likely to come back and bite you later? My mom is a born ‘n’ raised Southern Baptist and wouldn’t _dream_ of purchasing something that was in the least bit shady, no matter how much she may want to save money on arthritis meds. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/2 "2002-04-11T19:25:25Z")
I heard a blurb on this on the radio recently (either on NPR or the local newstalk station, I can’t remember which) - technically illegal, but people are doing it in droves, it’s going to be hard to catch, and it is unlikely that the government wants to be seen prosecuting senior citizens on fixed incomes trying to save some money on their prescriptions. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/3 "2002-04-11T19:28:48Z")
In fact, here’s an ABC news blurb on it, saying that it’s technically illegal, but the FDA isn’t prosecuting: [http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/Canadian\_RXdrugs020308.html](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/Canadian_RXdrugs020308.html) ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/4 "2002-04-11T19:40:21Z")
IANAL but I expect it is legal to buy anything online, but perhaps it is illegal to import it to the US. It is a problem for the US Customs Department which I expect have a difficult time with online ordering from Canada. 🙂 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/5 "2002-04-12T03:32:15Z")
Okay, thanks, guys. The ABC story is talking about a website where you have to get a Canadian doctor to validate your American prescription, but my sister’s talking about a website where you just “phone in” your order and they ship it out. [Canadapharmacy.com](http://Canadapharmacy.com) apparently just takes your word for it that you have a prescription, somewhere, for the drugs you’re ordering. The “authorization form”: [http://www.canada-pharmacy.com/consentform.html](http://www.canada-pharmacy.com/consentform.html) > [@](#): > > 1. The Client confirms to [Canada-Pharmacy.com](http://Canada-Pharmacy.com) and Mediplan Health Consulting Inc. (hereinafter “The Providers”) that the pharmaceutical(s) ordered by the Client (“the Ordered Product”) were prescribed by a duly qualified medical practitioner in the Place of Residence of the Client. So, it looks like the answer to my question is, “No.” If the FDA says that _this_ is illegal (from the ABC report)… > [@](#): > > After carefully studying the law, he discovered it was possible to place orders over the Internet — as long as there was a prescription and a doctor in Canada willing to review it and write the same prescription. Thus “[www.canadianmedsusa.com](http://www.canadianmedsusa.com)” was born. …then I doubt whether [canadapharmacy.com](http://canadapharmacy.com) is legal. Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/6 "2002-04-12T03:40:45Z")
Manny recently closed my thread on this very topic, saying that the Board cannot tolerate Q’s that pertain to illegal conduct. I told him via e-mail that NBC Evening News about three weeks ago profiled [Canadameds.com](http://Canadameds.com) and said that tens of thousands of American seniors are purchasing their meds from this company–and that the U.S. government is looking the other way, knowing their collective political clout. I also provided him links essentially proving this latter point. I think you need to re-check whether [Canadameds.com](http://Canadameds.com) requires the actual prescription. I’m thinking yes. They are a huge company, unlike the fly by nights that have proliferated in recent years. Call their 800 number and check into it, Duck. Regardless, you should be able to get a sizeable discount and it’s not like you’re trafficking heroin. If granny needs her meds, what’s the big deal in getting them from Canada? U.S. Customs has bigger fish to fry that nabbing rickety octogenarians. (Consider checking with the AARP.) ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/7 "2002-04-12T14:05:33Z")
Er, well, thanks, TS, 🙂 but I’m actually not looking for “rationalizations to convince me that it’s okay to buy Vioxx in Canada”–I’m actually leaning the other way, towards, “This is a bad, possibly illegal idea, and I’m looking for cites to prove it to my sister.” I have an Agenda, yes indeedy. 🙂 On Canadameds’ [Order Form,](http://www.canadameds.com/HowtoOrder.htm) it says: > [@](#): > > It takes 8 business days to process your prescriptions once we have your COMPLETE patient profile and your VALID American prescription, plus 7 to 10 business days for shipping. Under [Option B,](https://ssl.securesites.com/s14233/option-b.htm) for “New Patient ordering prescription drugs”, it says: > [@](#): > > Thank you for your interest in our prescription service. In order to fill your prescription, we will require certain information from you which includes: > > 1. Signed Power of Attorney Form (please see below) > 2. Completed Patient Questionnaire (please see below) > 3. A Copy of your prescription(s) > > Note: if you do not have a copy of your prescription, we will need either your physician’s name, phone and fax number, or your current local pharmacy’s name, phone and fax number so that we may contact them to receive a copy of the prescription. > > You may place your order using the 2-step process listed below. A Canadian Licensed pharmacist can check the cost of your prescription, or you may search our online database for pricing. Okay, so apparently they’re serious about requiring an actual American prescription–and _this_ is what the FDA says is “illegal, but they’re not prosecuting seniors”. So how much more illegal would [canadapharmacy.com](http://canadapharmacy.com) be, where they just take your word for it that you’ve got a prescription for it, somewhere? What happens if they suddenly decide to _start_ prosecuting seniors? “Hey, it’s Mom, on _20/20_!” Egad. :eek: Found this, while Googling “shipments elderly jail customs”. [http://michuhcan.tripod.com/nl-aug01.htm](http://michuhcan.tripod.com/nl-aug01.htm) > [@](#): > > Despite US law, seniors click on Canada for drugs > By Liz Kowalczyk, Globe Staff, 8/6/2001 > > \< snip \> > > …how to order cheap prescription drugs from Canada on the Internet, a practice that federal officials say is both against the law and dangerous. > > \< snip \> > > Growing frustration over prescription drug prices is putting the elderly on the opposite side of the law from the US Food and Drug Administration, which is proposing a crackdown on personal importation of medicine. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is considering whether to adopt a proposed FDA enforcement plan that would stop foreign drug shipments before they reach American buyers. > > \< snip \> > > But during a five-week enforcement test at the Carson City, Calif., US customs mail facility earlier this year, the agency stopped 721 packages containing medications from 19 countries. One of the shipments contained pills hidden between magazine pages. Several boxes held three drugs that were once approved by the FDA but were withdrawn from the market because they caused fatal heart arrhythmias, fatal infections, and strokes. Even packages containing common, accepted drugs in sealed manufacturers’ bottles were sent back or destroyed, McGinnis said. > > The FDA wants to tighten inspections at all 14 customs department mail inspection facilities. > > \< snip \> > > ‘‘It’s illegal to order prescription drugs from any site outside the US and have them shipped here,’’ said McGinnis… So, looks like I answered my own question. Thanks for the pointers, guys. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/8 "2002-04-12T21:51:51Z")
The fact–or supposition–that ordering meds from Canada is illegal does not necessarily make it a “bad” thing. Before anyone condemns the practice under discussion, let’s admit that, um, some observers believe the federal government has an incestuous relationship with the nation’s pharmaceutical conglomerates. Witness the PAC’s, the major arm twisting/lobbying/junketing. So why should the fact that indigent seniors in need of life-sustaining medications have turned to Canada bother anyone? Again, it’s not like they’re engaged in a hedonistic enterprise. We’re talking life and death. If the government won’t lead on this issue–and instead back seats the health and safety needs of the American people over fat conglomerate profit margins–then millions of Americans say that our representatives should get the hell out of the way and let people vote on this issue with their VISA cards. Trusting bought-and-paid for politicians to do the right thing is naive. BTW, it’s also against the law to speed in an automobile or to violate parking restrictions. Who can claim internal consistency on every point, on every law? (This has been a rhetorical advertisement. Thank you.) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/9 "2002-04-12T23:26:58Z")
If I remember the show accurately, what they said was it was illegal to import any kind of drug into the US, but they encouraging people to be careful (because of quality controls). ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/10 "2002-04-13T02:28:56Z")
I have read there is more counterfeit Viagra out there than the real stuff and I suppose it is possibly true for other expensive drugs. Now, if you buy drugs in Mexico you get the guarantee of the Mexican FDA and if you have any problem you can go and sue in the Mexican courts. I can’t wait to hear the first rant about someone who was swindled in Mexico. You might save a buck but it comes with some risk. I was reading a story about Germans and other Europeans travelling to Hungary to get cheaper dental care. Well, yes, it’s cheaper but is it the same? If everything goes well you saved a buck but what if something goes wrong? Same thing with people travelling to third world countries to get lyposuctions… ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/11 "2002-04-13T03:42:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Who can claim internal consistency on every point, on every law? \*\* You’ve obviously never met my parents… DDG Dad’s voice: “Oops, I was speeding–I was going 31 in a 30 mph zone…” DDG Mom’s voice: “…there’s a parking space…oh, wait, it’s HANDICAPPED, keep going…” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OneDollarWilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/fbc32d/32.png) [@OneDollarWilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneDollarWilliam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/12 "2002-04-13T07:19:45Z")
Tech TV covered the online pharmacy issue in a episode of Cyber Crime. The website for that is [here.](http://www.techtv.com/cybercrime/shownotes/story/0,23008,3373919,00.html) hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/13 "2002-04-13T15:23:08Z")
[Clark Howard](http://www.clarkhoward.com), a nationally-syndicated “consumer advocate,” says it’s perfectly legal. Look in the FAQ’s on his site; it’s gotta be in there somewhere. He talks about this on his program at least three times per week. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-q-is-it-legal-for-my-mother-to-buy-vioxx-online-from-a-canadian-supplier/103074/14 "2002-04-14T04:01:33Z")
Ah, to clarify. From the linked, reprinted Boston _Globe_ article, above: > [@](#): > > For years, seniors have ridden buses into Canada, where the government regulates drug prices, to buy cheaper prescriptions, which the FDA says is legal because the patient is personally examining the drugs. So yes, [Clark Howard](http://clarkhoward.com/library/tips/prescription_costs.html) is right. It is “perfectly legal”… > [@](#): > > You can buy medications in Canada, where the costs are 20 to 50 percent cheaper. > > \< snip \> > > Many Americans are saving big bucks by having their maintenance medications or prescriptions filled in Canada. …to buy them yourself, in person, “in Canada”. “In” Canada. It is _illegal_, however, to buy Canadian drugs _online_, over the Internet, in the U.S.