Under which circumstance may a pharmacist refuse to fill a lawful prescription?

A pharmacist may refuse to fill a lawful prescription if the drug is not in stock. This is a common and reasonable practice in pharmacy operations. When a pharmacist determines that a prescribed medication is not available due to inventory issues, they are justified in not dispensing it. The pharmacy has a responsibility to provide medications that are available and safe to dispense.

In this situation, the pharmacist can inform the patient or their prescriber about the unavailability and possibly assist in finding an alternative medication or coordinating a way to obtain the prescribed medication in a timely manner. This scenario is based on practical constraints rather than any doubts about the prescription itself, which aligns with professional standards in pharmacy practice.

Other options may involve considerations that don’t justify refusal to fill a lawful prescription. For instance, doubts regarding legality or not being familiar with a patient do not inherently allow for refusal, as pharmacists are required to exercise professional judgment and may still fill medications while providing necessary counseling or verification. The unavailability of a drug, however, is a clear, logistical reason for a pharmacist to not proceed with filling a prescription.