{ "id": 708443, "name": "The NEW MEXICO PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. STATE of New Mexico and The New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners, Defendants-Appellees", "name_abbreviation": "New Mexico Pharmaceutical Ass'n v. State", "decision_date": "1987-07-06", "docket_number": "No. 16434", "first_page": "73", "last_page": "76", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "106 N.M. 73" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "738 P.2d 1318" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "97 N.M. 464", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1555054 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "467" }, { "page": "498" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/97/0464-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 N.M. 790", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2868698 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "794" }, { "page": "1240" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/90/0790-01" ] }, { "cite": "615 P.2d 991", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "94 N.M. 674", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "95 N.M. 685", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1575607 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "690-91" }, { "page": "1207-08" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/95/0685-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 N.M. 657", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2823944, 2822245 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/86/0657-01", "/nm/86/0657-02" ] }, { "cite": "86 N.M. 571", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2825826 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "576" }, { "page": "936" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/86/0571-01" ] }, { "cite": "101 N.M. 95", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1586477 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "99" }, { "page": "1174" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/101/0095-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 N.M. 329", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1575588 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "333" }, { "page": "238" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/95/0329-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 N.M. 588", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1575595 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "590-91" }, { "page": "532-33" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/95/0588-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 N.M. 780", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1575501 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "782" }, { "page": "856" }, { "page": "782" }, { "page": "856", "parenthetical": "express prohibition of dangerous drug dispensing held applicable to controlled substances" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/95/0780-01" ] }, { "cite": "101 N.M. 592", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1586442 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "593" }, { "page": "935" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/101/0592-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 515, "char_count": 9202, "ocr_confidence": 0.786, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.039895318899089e-07, "percentile": 0.747627950509856 }, "sha256": "bd9fdeb10220f4b5b6db5ef6dba4d40f56c463ae5600f0ec46bb4c9aabef9fff", "simhash": "1:0a94a0253cf81cbc", "word_count": 1418 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:27:22.270695+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "WALTERS and RANSOM, JJ\u201e concur." ], "parties": [ "The NEW MEXICO PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. STATE of New Mexico and The New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners, Defendants-Appellees." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nSTOWERS, Justice.\nThis appeal arises from a declaratory judgment action challenging the validity of a rule promulgated by the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners (Board) that in certain circumstances allows physician\u2019s assistants to dispense dangerous drugs. Under paragraph (D)(4) of Rule 86-2, the Board may give written permission to a supervising physician to delegate to a physician\u2019s assistant the authority to dispense a forty-eight-hour supply of specified prepackaged or unit-of-use drugs controlled by the New Mexico Drug and Cosmetic Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 26-1-1 to -26 (Orig. Pamp. and Cum.Supp.1983), excluding substances controlled by the New Mexico Controlled Substances Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 30-31-1 to -40 (Repl.Pamp.1980 and Cum.Supp.1985), if the patient is located more than twelve miles from the nearest pharmacy open at the time of dispensing.\nPlaintiff New Mexico Pharmaceutical Association (Association) brought this action in district court against defendants the State and the Board, seeking a declaration that the rule was void, invalid, and contrary to law. After the district court denied the Association\u2019s request for a preliminary injunction, the parties submitted the issue for determination upon stipulations and briefs. The district court upheld the Board\u2019s action, ruling that the Board acted within the scope of its authority and not contrary to law when it promulgated Rule 86-2. See NMSA 1978, \u00a7 61-1-25 (Repl. Pamp.1986) (criteria for determining rule invalid in declaratory judgment action). The Association appeals, contending that Rule 86-2 is contrary to law because NMSA 1978, Subsection 61-6-16(G) (Repl. Pamp.1986) expressly prohibits physician\u2019s assistants from dispensing dangerous drugs. We agree, and we reverse the district court\u2019s judgment.\nSubsection 61-6-16(G) provides that the statutes regarding licensing of the practice of medicine shall not apply to:\nany act, task or function performed by a physician's assistant at the direction of and under the supervision of a licensed physician, when:\n(1) such assistant is certified by and annually registered with the board as one qualified by training or experience to function as an assistant to a physician;\n(2) such act, task or function is performed at the direction of and under the supervision of a licensed physician in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the board; and\n(3) the services of the physician\u2019s assistant are limited to assisting the physician in the particular fields for which the assistant has been trained, certified and registered; provided that this subsection shall not limit or prevent any physician from delegating to a qualified person any acts, tasks or functions which are otherwise permitted by law or established by custom, except the dispensing of dangerous drugs. [Emphasis added.]\nThe Board has been authorized by the Legislature to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the purposes of carrying out this statute and others relating to physician\u2019s assistants. See NMSA 1978, \u00a7 61-6-8 (Repl.Pamp.1986); see also NMSA 1978, \u00a7 61-6-19 (Repl.Pamp.1986); see generally 1973 N.M.Laws, ch. 361, \u00a7\u00a7 1 to 10 (presently codified at NMSA 1978, \u00a7\u00a7 61-6-4 to -9, -15, and -16 (Repl.Pamp.1986)). It has no power to adopt a rule or regulation that is not in harmony with this statutory authority. See Rivas v. Board of Cosmetologists, 101 N.M. 592, 593, 686 P.2d 934, 935 (1984); New Mexico Bd. of Pharmacy v. New Mexico Bd. of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, 95 N.M. 780, 782, 626 P.2d 854, 856 (Ct.App.1981).\nThe Board contends that its Rule 86-2 allowing physician\u2019s assistants to dispense dangerous drugs is not inconsistent with the statutory prohibition contained in the final clause of Subsection 61-6-16(G)(3). Under its interpretation, the language following the semicolon prohibits the dispensing of dangerous drugs by \u201cqualified persons\u201d but not by physician\u2019s assistants who act in accordance with the requirements of Subsections 61-6-16(G)(l), (2), and (3). In effect, the Board attempts to define the term \u201cqualified person,\u201d undefined by the Legislature, in a manner that excludes such physician\u2019s assistants.\nBecause the meaning of the statutory language is unclear, this Court must resort to construction and interpretation in order to ascertain and give effect to the intention of the Legislature. See New Mexico State Bd. of Educ. v. Board of Educ., 95 N.M. 588, 590-91, 624 P.2d 530, 532-33 (1981); Methola v. County of Eddy, 95 N.M. 329, 333, 622 P.2d 234, 238 (1980). Although not binding, the statutory interpretations of the agency charged with administration of the statute are persuasive. City of Raton v. Vermejo Conservancy Dist., 101 N.M. 95, 99, 678 P.2d 1170, 1174 (1984). However, a reviewing court will overturn a clearly incorrect administrative interpretation. See Pharmaceutical Mfrs. Ass\u2019n v. New Mexico Bd. of Pharmacy, 86 N.M. 571, 576, 525 P.2d 931, 936 (Ct.App.), cert. quashed, 86 N.M. 657, 526 P.2d 799 (1974).\nWe have considered the Board\u2019s argument that the clause of Subsection 61-6-16(G)(3) following the semicolon must be construed as an independent clause that could stand as a separate sentence. See Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corp. v. Property Tax Div. of the Taxation & Revenue Dep\u2019t, 95 N.M. 685, 690-91, 625 P.2d 1202, 1207-08 (Ct.App.) (Hendley, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part), cert. denied, 94 N.M. 674, 615 P.2d 991 (1980). By its terms as well as its punctuation, that clause applies to \u201cthis subsection,\u201d that is, to Subsection 61-6-16(G) as a whole, and forbids delegation of the task of dispensing dangerous drugs to \u201cqualified persons.\u201d\nIn interpreting statutes, we should read the entire statute as a whole so that each provision may be considered in relation to every other part. State ex rel. Newsome v. Aland, 90 N.M. 790, 794, 568 P.2d 1236, 1240 (1977). Various subsections of NMSA 1978, Section 61-6-16 (Repl.Pamp.1986) govern the exception of certain medical professionals from compliance with the licensing requirements for the practice of medicine. See, e.g., NMSA 1978, \u00a7\u00a7 61-6-16(C), (F), (H) (Repl.Pamp.1986). Subsection 61-6-16(G) governs only the exception of physician\u2019s assistants, and we believe that when the Legislature used the term \u201cqualified person\u201d in the final clause of that subsection, it meant a physician\u2019s assistant who acts in accordance with the criteria of Subsections 61-6-16(G)(l), (2), and (3).\nThe Board\u2019s interpretation of its statutory authority is clearly wrong. It acted outside the scope of its authority and contrary to law when it promulgated Rule 86-2 allowing physicians, in certain circumstances, to delegate to physician\u2019s assistants the task of dispensing dangerous drugs. The Board\u2019s administrative rule therefore must yield to the statutory guidelines set by the Legislature. See Family Dental Center v. New Mexico Bd. of Dentistry, 97 N.M. 464, 467, 641 P.2d 495, 498 (1982).\nOur conclusion is in no way undermined by the fact that the Legislature expressly prohibited the Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners from adopting rules allowing osteopathic physician\u2019s assistants from dispensing dangerous drugs, but did not expressly prohibit the Board of Medical Examiners from adopting similar rules regarding physician\u2019s assistants. Compare NMSA 1978, \u00a7 61-10A-6(C) (Rep.Pamp. 1986) (osteopathic physician\u2019s assistants) with NMSA 1978, \u00a7 61-6-8(C) (Repl.Pamp. 1986) (physician\u2019s assistants); cf. New Mexico Bd. of Pharmacy v. New Mexico Bd. of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, 95 N.M. at 782, 626 P.2d at 856 (express prohibition of dangerous drug dispensing held applicable to controlled substances). In 1973, the Legislature placed its express prohibition of the dispensing of dangerous drugs by physician\u2019s assistants in Subsection 61-6-16(G). In 1979, the Legislature did not enact a provision analogous to Section 61-6-16, but instead placed its express prohibition of the dispensing of dangerous drugs by osteopathic physician\u2019s assistants in the section of the Osteopathic Physicians\u2019 Assistants Act delineating the Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners\u2019 rule-making authority. See \u00a7 61-10A-6(C); see generally 1979 N.M. Laws, ch. 26, \u00a7\u00a7 1 to 7 (presently codified at NMSA 1978, \u00a7\u00a7 61-10A-1 to -7 (Repl.Pamp.1986)). The Legislature in each case clearly expressed its intention to forbid physician\u2019s assistants from dispensing dangerous drugs. The Board cannot rely upon the form of the Legislature\u2019s express prohibition to circumvent that intention, and we hold Rule 86-2 void.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the decision of the district court is reversed.\nIT IS SO ORDERED.\nWALTERS and RANSOM, JJ\u201e concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "STOWERS, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Stratton & Barnett, Harold D. Stratton, Jr., Mickey D. Barnett, Albuquerque, for plaintiff-appellant.", "Paul Bardaeke, Atty. Gen., G.T.S. Khalsa, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for State and Board of Medical Examiners.", "Jonathan Morse, Santa Fe, amicus curiae Academy for Physician Assistants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "738 P.2d 1318\nThe NEW MEXICO PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. STATE of New Mexico and The New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners, Defendants-Appellees.\nNo. 16434.\nSupreme Court of New Mexico.\nJuly 6, 1987.\nStratton & Barnett, Harold D. Stratton, Jr., Mickey D. Barnett, Albuquerque, for plaintiff-appellant.\nPaul Bardaeke, Atty. Gen., G.T.S. Khalsa, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for State and Board of Medical Examiners.\nJonathan Morse, Santa Fe, amicus curiae Academy for Physician Assistants." }, "file_name": "0073-01", "first_page_order": 113, "last_page_order": 116 }