- (1) Children or adolescent patients. In the treatment of pain for children or adolescent patients, the physician assistant shall treat pain in a manner equal to that of an adult but must account for the weight of the patient and adjust the dosage prescribed accordingly.
- (2) Pregnant patients. The physician assistant shall not initiate opioid detoxification without consultation with a provider with expertise in addiction medicine. Medication assisted treatment for opioids, such as methadone or buprenorphine, must not be discontinued during pregnancy without consultation with a MAT prescribing practitioner.
- (3) Aging populations. As people age, their sensitivities to and metabolizing of opioids may change. The physician assistant shall consider the distinctive needs of patients who are sixty-five years of age or older and who have been on chronic opioid therapy or who are initiating opioid treatment.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.71.800, 18.71A.800 and 2017 c 297. WSR 18-23-061, § 246-918-910, filed 11/16/18, effective 1/1/19.]