ANSWER: YES. The Washington Administrative Code (WAC-246-817-722) stands as written.
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) originally repealed the requirement to its rule requiring automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in certain dental offices that administered anesthetic. On May 1, 2009 the DQAC upheld the requirement that requires AED's in Washington state dental offices that administer anesthetic.
While this leaves the original rule (WAC 246-817-722) in effect, DQAC has also begun the administrative process to amend the rule with attention to two issues:
- exempting offices which administer only topical anesthetics, and
- allowing adjoining offices to jointly comply with the rule using a single AED.
Due to opposition in repealing this rule, the DQAC was unable to use the states expedited repeal process. If approved, the revised rule would likely not be effective until March 2010. DQAC members clarified that the commission does have discretion in not pursuing complaints regarding AEDs in the interim.
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