After talking with the prescriber you confirm the prescription is forged you tell the patient
Pharmacists are expected to take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that a prescription has been issued by an authorised prescriber. Prescriptions for Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 medicines subject to abuse, such as such benzodiazepines and opioids, are most likely to be forged. However pharmacists should also consider other medications such as anabolic steroids which may be abused and medications such as Catapres that can be used to mask the symptoms of withdrawal from drugs of dependence (if, for example, a patient has sold their prescribed takeaway dose of an opioid substitute). The supply of such medicines in the absence of a legal prescription results in unacceptable risks to the public. Show
Each State and Territory has its own drugs and poisons legislation which outlines the requirements for valid prescriptions and pharmacists’ statutory obligations if a forged prescription is received or detected[1]. Pharmacists should also ensure that they check the requirements of the state that the prescription originates from, for example if a patient reports they are on holidays or if the pharmacy is located close to a state border. Generally, pharmacists have an obligation to notify the state health department and in some jurisdictions, the police if they reasonably believe a prescription has been forged or fraudulently altered. Some states also have specific processes for medical practitioners to follow if their prescription pad has been lost or stolen. This information is published online and can be checked by pharmacists. Could this be a forged prescription? – Consider and ask yourself the following:The Patient
The Prescriber
The Situation
The Prescription
It cannot be assumed that an electronic prescription is genuine. Forged and fraudulent computer-generated prescriptions are as prevalent as handwritten ones and they can be more difficult to identify. In the often fast paced environment of many community pharmacies, key points to check to ascertain that an electronic prescription is genuine include:
The above is not an exhaustive list of factors that may indicate a forged or fraudulent prescription. Also, one or more of these factors may be present, but the prescription could still be genuine. Above all, trust your own professional judgment. If the prescription seems wrong, it probably is and you should not dispense it. If a decision is made to refuse to supply, a detailed note of the reasons why should be recorded in the patient’s history. I think this prescription may be forged – what should I do?
If may be difficult for a pharmacist to justify dispensing a forged prescription if they:
This article was written by Principal Scott Ames. Please contact Scott Ames if you have any questions or if you would like further information. This article was originally published as a Practice Alert by Pharmaceutical Defence Limited. [1] Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996 (Qld); Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (NSW); Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017 (Vic); Poisons Regulations 2008 (Tas); Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (ACT); Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 2011 (SA); Medicines and Poisons Regulations 2016 (WA); Poisons & Dangerous Drugs Act (NT) Disclaimer: This information is current as of January 2019. This article does not constitute legal advice and does not give rise to any solicitor/client relationship between Meridian Lawyers and the reader. Professional legal advice should be sought before acting or relying upon the content of this article.What do you do with a forged prescription?If you believe that you have a forged, altered, or counterfeited prescription—don't dispense it—call your local police. If you believe that you have discovered a pattern of prescription abuses, contact your State Board of Pharmacy or your local DEA office.
Why is it important to validate a prescription when receiving it?When a prescription is presented, a pharmacist must fully review the prescription to ensure that the prescription is legally valid and therapeutically appropriate for the patient. This involves assessing the contents of the individual prescription as it relates to the patient for which the prescription was issued.
What is the correct order to process a prescription?The prescription filling process has five detailed steps. They include input & initial check, therapeutic check, preparation, technical check and supply and educate. These focus on an accurate and precise prescription filling process that is safe and legal for both the customer and the pharmacist.
What does it mean when a prescription is flagged?A red flag is “a term that's come to be used to give examples to pharmacies of things that might indicate or suggest that prescriptions were filled outside the usual course of pharmacy practice,” he said in testimony.
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