What should a pharmacist do after verifying a forged prescription?

After verifying that a prescription is forged, the most appropriate action for a pharmacist is to report the situation to law enforcement and document the findings. This response is critical for several reasons.

Firstly, reporting to law enforcement ensures that the situation is handled by the appropriate authorities who have the tools and authority to investigate and potentially prevent further illegal activity involving prescription medications. These actions also help protect the public from the dangers of forged prescriptions, ensuring that people are not exposed to potentially harmful drugs dispensed without proper medical oversight.

Documenting the findings is equally important, as it creates a formal record of the incident. This can be useful not only for the pharmacist's own protection but also for any ongoing investigations by law enforcement. Proper documentation may include details about the prescription itself, the patient, and any interactions that occurred.

Educating the patient about medication legality or tearing up the prescription and confronting the patient does not address the legal implications or the risk of further illegal activity. Refilling the prescription, even with caution, is inappropriate since it would facilitate the forge as it disregards legal protocols for legitimate prescription processes. All these factors underline why the action of reporting to law enforcement and documenting the findings is the correct approach in this scenario.