What is one of the options a pharmacist may take when refusing to fill a prescription?

The choice of providing a maximum three-day supply of medication is based on the pharmacist's responsibility to ensure that patients receive necessary medications while also adhering to their professional and legal obligations. In situations where a pharmacist has valid reasons to refuse to fill a prescription—such as concerns about the appropriateness of the medication for the patient or a potential drug interaction—they may choose to dispense a limited amount to avoid an interruption in care. This approach enables the pharmacist to provide immediate assistance to the patient while allowing time to resolve any issues with the original prescription.

This practice aligns with the principle of ensuring patient access to necessary medications while maintaining safe and responsible pharmacy practices. Additionally, it gives the pharmacist a chance to communicate concerns with the prescribing physician and seek clarification or a modification of the original prescription.

The other options presented do not align with professional pharmacy practices. Requesting a new prescription from the physician is not a standard first step and could delay patient treatment unnecessarily. Selling the prescription to another pharmacy is unethical and illegal, as prescriptions are intended for individual patient use. Destroying the original prescription would also not be appropriate, as it could complicate record-keeping and violate regulations regarding prescription integrity.