Does emergency oxygen require a doctors prescription?
NO. Oxygen is a drug when it is given in concentrations beyond what is in ambient air and when used for medical treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulating government agency for medical oxygen, requires a prescription, but has EXEMPTED this requirement for emergency applications IF the user has had training in its use. Since September 1996 the FDA requires all medical oxygen sold in the U.S. to bear the following statement on the label: “For emergency use only when administered by properly trained personnel for oxygen deficiency and resuscitation. For all other medical applications, Rx Only”. In order to be considered as an over-the-counter (OTC) device, i.e., “non-prescription”, the oxygen delivery system must provide a minimum flow rate of 6 liters per minute for a minimum of 15 minutes.
