Which action constitutes Forging/Altering Prescription?

Which action constitutes Forging/Altering Prescription?

• A. Increasing the prescribed quantity of a dangerous drug by forging the prescription
• B. Filling a prescription exactly as written
• C. Refusing to fill a prescription
• D. Writing a prescription for a drug you know is unsafe

Answer: (A)

Forging or altering a prescription means changing something on an existing prescription to obtain a medication or amount that the prescriber did not authorize. Increasing the prescribed quantity of a dangerous drug by forging the prescription fits this definition because it involves manipulating the document to authorize more medication and often involves a fraudulent signature. Filling a prescription exactly as written doesn’t involve any change. Refusing to fill a prescription is a safety decision, not an alteration of the prescription. Writing a prescription for a drug you know is unsafe is unethical and illegal, but it doesn’t involve altering an existing prescription. So the action that constitutes forging/altering is increasing the prescribed quantity by forging the prescription.

Forging or altering a prescription means changing something on an existing prescription to obtain a medication or amount that the prescriber did not authorize. Increasing the prescribed quantity of a dangerous drug by forging the prescription fits this definition because it involves manipulating the document to authorize more medication and often involves a fraudulent signature. Filling a prescription exactly as written doesn’t involve any change. Refusing to fill a prescription is a safety decision, not an alteration of the prescription. Writing a prescription for a drug you know is unsafe is unethical and illegal, but it doesn’t involve altering an existing prescription. So the action that constitutes forging/altering is increasing the prescribed quantity by forging the prescription.