What legal protection do pharmacists have when refusing to fill a prescription?

Pharmacists possess good faith immunity when they refuse to fill a prescription if they have a reasonable belief that doing so may pose a risk to the patient’s safety. This legal protection acknowledges the professional judgment of pharmacists, allowing them to prioritize patient safety over compliance with a prescription that they suspect could be harmful.

In practice, a pharmacist may encounter situations where a medication could interact negatively with another drug a patient is taking, or if the dosage appears unsafe based on their knowledge and expertise. In such cases, the pharmacist has the right to refuse to fill the prescription while being protected under good faith immunity, assuming they can articulate their rationale.

This provision encourages pharmacists to act in the best interest of patients while also providing a safeguard should their actions be questioned. Documentation of the refusal and the reasons for it is advisable, as it can serve as evidence of the pharmacist's good faith and intent to protect the patient.