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Know Your Rights
Source: NY1
Subject: Language Access
Type: Media Coverage

Advocates Push For Expansion Of Prescription Label Laws

Elected officials and activists gathered in Manhattan Tuesday to call for a new state law that would simplify prescription medication labels.

The city passed a law last year that did just that.

A report released Tuesday by a coalition of consumer advocates found the law led to significant improvements in the way chain pharmacies in the city provide language access to customers who are not proficient in English.

Assemblyman Richard Gottfried says it’s a life and death issue for people who don’t understand what is on the label.

"Because they don’t understand, they may take too much, they may take not enough. They may not take them at all. And you could have very serious consequences for all of those situations. And it’s especially a problem for people where English is not their major language," Gottfried said.

Advocates say 90 million Americans have trouble understanding instructions on prescription labels.

**Make the Road New York (MRNY) have supported and advocated laws that translate and simplify prescription medication labels.