What must a pharmacist do in case of a suspicious prescription?

When a pharmacist encounters a suspicious prescription, the appropriate course of action is to verify the prescription with the prescriber before dispensing it. This step is critical because it allows the pharmacist to confirm the legitimacy of the prescription, ensuring that the medication is being prescribed for a legitimate medical need. This verification process helps to prevent the dispensing of controlled substances that may be misused or diverted for non-medical purposes.

In addition to ensuring patient safety and compliance with legal standards, contacting the prescriber helps protect the pharmacist and the pharmacy from potential legal repercussions that may arise from filling illicit or fraudulent prescriptions. It is an important component of due diligence in the role of a pharmacist within the healthcare system.

While other actions such as consulting with the pharmacy manager or reporting to the DEA may be relevant in certain contexts, they may not address the immediate concern of verifying the prescription's validity. Refusing to fill the prescription outright without any further action fails to uphold the pharmacist’s professional responsibility to investigate and clarify the situation, which could ultimately serve the best interest of the patient and contribute to responsible medication management.