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Medical Forum / General / Pharmacy / May 2005C-II Question
I recently presented a legitimate prescription (written by my doctor) to a pharmacist who reacted with unambiguous suspicion and undisguised rudeness. He questioned both me personally at some length and the validity of the prescription itself finally muttering something about notifying "the authorities." I responded by suggesting that he first call my doctor. As an aside, I have been seeing my doctor (and no others) for over ten years now and to the best of my recollection he has written me a grand total of two prescriptions for controlled substances--two (total), 2 oz. bottles of Tussionex syrup for two separate bouts of bronchitis several years apart. This time the prescription was for 48 Percocet tablets. (I also had a prescription for acyclovir--I have shingles.) After suggesting that he call my doctor (which he did), the prescriptions were dutifully filled amidst much grumbling. I am not a doper. And I can guarantee that my doc's prescribing practices are above reproach. I have many very close personal friends who are also his patients and I don't think ANY of us would go near the man if it appeared that he prescribed ANYTHING inappropriately. I was so taken aback by this whole affair that at the time I was shocked speechless. Was this pharmacist just having a bad day? Would I have been within my rights to ask for an apology? Does this happen often? What is the appropriate response from a patient in a situation like this? Hank >I recently presented a legitimate prescription (written by my doctor) to > a pharmacist who reacted with unambiguous suspicion and undisguised [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Hank Of course only hearing your side but maybe its time to change pharmacies/pharmacists to one that you feel more comfortable with. Brad > I recently presented a legitimate prescription (written by my doctor) to > a pharmacist who reacted with unambiguous suspicion and undisguised [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Hank Complain to the main office if it is a drugstore chain. If the pharmacist is relatively young & inexperienced it would be a good lesson in how to handle potential situations professionally & with respect if he was "dressed down" by his bosses for how he treated a legitimate patient(ie, "paying customer" to the district manager). I tend to think it was a less experienced pharmacist as I would never mumble something about calling the authorities within earshot of a patient. If that patient were illegitimate it would only provoke a confrontation and if the patient were legitimate it would be humiliating & disrespectful. Anyone can be having a bad day but professionalism should never suffer. At the least, you should take your business elsewhere. Rich Hank wrote >I recently presented a legitimate >prescription... How do you know the prescription was legitimate? There are a lot of technical requirements for a Percocet prescription. Many such prescriptions are deficient. (Don't forget Elvis: His pharmacist went to jail. He physician got a slap on the wrist.) .. to a pharmacist who reacted with unambiguous suspicion and undisguised rudeness... Maybe he was trying to discourage your business. I once heard a story of someone who did some sort of home remodeling. When he had more business than he wanted, he discouraged more business by raising his prices. Pharmacists can't do that. Some (all?) just treat patients less politely when they have too much work. >He questioned both me personally >at some length and the validity >of the prescription itself... A pharmacist has a legal duty to attempt to determine whether a prescription is legitimate. He may have to ask more questions than a patient wants to answer... >This time the prescription was for >48 Percocet tablets. (I also had a >prescription for acyclovir--I have >shingles.) Well, that's a tough one. I think an experienced pharmacist would infer a degree of legitimacy to Percocet prescription when there was also one for acyclovir at the same time. >After suggesting that he call >my doctor (which he did)... This is a tantalizing clue. I can't imagine that the pharmacist would go to the trouble of contacting the doctor unless there was a significant concern that the prescription was legitimate, or a significant deficiency in the prescription. >the prescriptions were dutifully filled Well, there you go... >amidst much grumbling. Okay, that's a funny one. Sounds like he was having a bad day. >...And I can guarantee that my doc's >prescribing practices are above reproach Therapeautically, your MD may indeed be excellent. However, unless you are a pharmacist, you have no basis to evaluate his prescription _writing_ ability. >...I was so taken aback by this >whole affair that at the time I >was shocked speechless. Was this >pharmacist just having a bad day? I hate to say it, but based only on what you say, it does sound that way. Yes, it would have been interesting to ask him what his problem was. On the other hand, it probably wouldn't have gotten you an answer. I find when I encounter a difficult person, it's best to just move on, and no longer give them your business. >What is the appropriate response from >a patient in a situation like this? Be polite. Sometimes a direct question can get you an honest answer. Something like, "Is there anything wrong with the prescription?" or "Is there some reason why you are reluctant to fill my prescription?" or "Can you give me a good idea of how long this will take?" Maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe he has poor customer skills. that's stupid. the pharmacist is only fulfilling the order given by the doctor. the pharm can't prescribe meds himself. good grief > Hank wrote > [quoted text clipped - 77 lines] > > Maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe he has poor customer skills. Nicole H wrote >that's stupid. the pharmacist is only >fulfilling the order given by the doctor. >the pharm can't prescribe meds himself. >good grief Nicole, I understand your point of view. It does seem that all a pharmacist needs to do is count out some pills: Easy, right? Actually, a pharmacist (or nurse, etc.) who only is "fulfilling the order given by the doctor" will certainly end up 1 hurting or killing a patient and/or 2 in jail and/or 3 without a license I think you misunderstood my point. I have a chronic illness and take a lot of meds. My pharmacist plays a very critical role in my health care. I just don't understand why the pharmacist would be arrested for filling the rx's that a doctor wrote but the doctor doesn't get chastised. I just don't believe it's the pharmacist fault when a doctor is over prescribing. I take a lot of meds (12 prescriptions). I frequently review them with my dr and my pharmacist. I just can't imagine my pharmacist getting in trouble for filling the rx's my drs have written (I have 2 drs and both are aware of each other and what each is rx'ing) Nicole H wrote >that's stupid. the pharmacist is only >fulfilling the order given by the doctor. >the pharm can't prescribe meds himself. >good grief Nicole, I understand your point of view. It does seem that all a pharmacist needs to do is count out some pills: Easy, right? Actually, a pharmacist (or nurse, etc.) who only is "fulfilling the order given by the doctor" will certainly end up 1 hurting or killing a patient and/or 2 in jail and/or 3 without a license >I recently presented a legitimate prescription (written by my doctor) to >a pharmacist who reacted with unambiguous suspicion and undisguised [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >bottles of Tussionex syrup for two separate bouts of bronchitis several >years apart. ============= I have close to 40 years experience behind the Rx counter and honestly just from hearing your account of this situation ..I can not answer you question.... To be honest when I am handed any Rx I first have to actually look at that piece of paper and usually do not even blink an eye...sometimes however "something" is just not right....This could be just about anything...the way the directions were written, The handwriting, etc... Once I have "some" doubt I am now faced with a difficult task...how do I "size" you up personally... ? Do I use how you are dressed, groomed, etc....not exactly good methods... in fact pretty darn poor ones... in short it all comes down to what I feel in my gut.... >This time the prescription was for 48 Percocet tablets. (I also had a >prescription for acyclovir--I have shingles.) After suggesting that he call my >doctor (which he did), the prescriptions were dutifully filled amidst much >grumbling. Personally I can not understand why the Pharmacist was grumbling... B >I am not a doper. And I can guarantee that my doc's prescribing practices >are above reproach. I have many very close personal friends who are also >his patients and I don't think ANY of us would go near the man if it appeared >that he prescribed ANYTHING inappropriately. Just about how I feel about my own personal Physician... >I was so taken aback by this whole affair that at the time I was shocked speechless. >Was this pharmacist just having a bad day? Would I have been within my rights >to ask for an apology? Does this happen often? What is the appropriate response >from a patient in a situation like this? > >Hank As for the Pharmacist having a bad day....could be...we all have them Actually you are within your rights to ask for an apology...but again being honest I doubt I personally would offer you one... Unless I was a completely off base in questioning the Rx ... If I was I would have given you an apology plus given you what caused me to question the Rx in the first place... Just my opinion... Bob Griffiths Sometimes when a Rx didn't look right I would just say I was out of stock for the product. Every so often a guy would present a Rx that had been around to every pharmacy in the town and no one would fill it. Sometimes part of the Rx would be written with different colored ink but it would check out OK with the doctor.. I would have to see a photocopy of your Rx before I could say if anything about it looked funny. Were you a regular customer of this pharmacy or had you never used it before? Pharmacists have the State Board of Pharmacy and the federal government watching them. Not many pharmacists want to be part of a "sting operation" to make a few bucks filling a suspicious prescription. Now in some States we are supposed to solve the methamphetamine problem by keeping records of all the Sudafed tablets sold! > >I recently presented a legitimate prescription (written by my doctor) to > >a pharmacist who reacted with unambiguous suspicion and undisguised [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > Bob Griffiths >>I recently presented a legitimate prescription (written by my doctor) to >>a pharmacist who reacted with unambiguous suspicion and undisguised [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > Bob Griffiths I will admit that I was not looking my best and maybe, to be fair, I should simply chalk it up to someone having a bad day confronted by a fellow who appeared less than savory--I've had bad days, too. But I would hope that there's a middle ground between suspecting (and insulting) everyone and passing out drugs, carte blanche. Hank |
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