Who is ultimately responsible for the actions of a pharmacy technician?

The licensed pharmacist on duty is ultimately responsible for the actions of a pharmacy technician. This responsibility stems from the pharmacist's role as the individual who is legally accountable for all aspects of the pharmacy operations, including the activities performed by support staff such as technicians.

Pharmacists are required to ensure that all medications are dispensed accurately and safely, which includes supervising the work of pharmacy technicians. When a pharmacy technician misinterprets a prescription or makes an error in medication dispensing, it is the pharmacist's responsibility to rectify that mistake and address any resulting issues, such as notifying patients or managing potential health risks.

In this context, while others, such as the pharmacy owner or the state pharmacy board, may have roles in oversight or regulation, they do not directly manage the day-to-day operations or the actions of the pharmacy technicians. Similarly, the lead technician may assist in training and coordinating work among technicians, but they do not have the legal authority or responsibility that the on-duty pharmacist does. Therefore, the accountability for actions taken within the pharmacy ultimately rests with the licensed pharmacist present at that time.