Can a pharmacist initiate or discontinue drug therapy under a CDTA?

Under a Collaborative Drug Therapy Agreement (CDTA), a pharmacist can indeed initiate or discontinue drug therapy, but this action must be performed in agreement with one or more prescribers involved in the patient's care. This collaborative approach allows pharmacists to work alongside prescribers to manage medication therapy more effectively, ensuring that patient needs are met while adhering to established protocols.

The rationale for this requirement lies in the need to ensure patient safety and continuity of care. By having an agreement in place, pharmacists are able to operate within a defined scope of practice, which is typically outlined in the CDTA, thereby reducing the risk of medication errors and ensuring that the treatment plan aligns with the prescriber’s overall management strategy for the patient.

In contrast, the other options suggest scenarios that either lack appropriate oversight or do not reflect the collaborative spirit of a CDTA. For instance, acting without any agreement could lead to inconsistencies in patient care, while saying it's not allowed under any circumstances ignores the legal framework established by a CDTA. Furthermore, limiting collaboration to certain medications undermines the full potential of the pharmacist's role in the therapeutic team.