When a Pharmacist tells a pt that “I’m not comfortable” and refuses to fill a prescriptions – particularly a controlled substance – typically they have NO VALID CLINICAL REASON to refuse to fill and deny care. In fact, I wish that pts would ask these pharmacists that use this “excuse” as a reason to deny care for a written CLINICAL REASON for the denial. In reality – it would be a FAT CHANCE that the pt would get anything in writing from a pharmacist… Most likely they will get a condescending statement that “I don’t have to fill anything that I don’t want to” In my conversations with pts that have been on the receiving end of those sort of condescending statements… most all seem to be with the pt interacting with a chain pharmacist…. Could that be that it is because the various state boards of Pharmacy are stacked with non-practicing corporate pharmacists ? https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=6552337&page=1 The primary charge of states’ Boards of Pharmacy is PUBLIC SAFETY… if certain boards of pharmacy are turning a blind eye or deft ear to the denial of care by untold number of chain pharmacists. So these chain pharmacists know/understand that there is never going to be any personal consequences for the inappropriate denial of care to pts.
IDENTIFYING THE ABUSIVE PRACTICES TOWARD PAIN CARE OF THE PHARMD PHYSICIAN WANT TO BE
BY
NORMAN J CLEMENT RPH., DDS, NORMAN L.CLEMENT PHARM-TECH, MALACHI F. MACKANDAL PHARMD, BELINDA BROWN-PARKER, IN THE SPIRIT OF JOSEPH SOLVO ESQ., INC.T. SPIRIT OF REV. C.T. VIVIAN, JELANI ZIMBABWE CLEMENT, BS., MBA., IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HON. PATRICE LUMUMBA, IN THE SPIRIT OF ERLIN CLEMENT SR., WALTER F. WRENN III., MD., JULIE KILLINGWORTH, LESLY POMPY MD., NANCY SEEFEDLT, WILLIE GUINYARD BS., JOSEPH WEBSTER MD., MBA, BEVERLY C. PRINCE MD., FACS., NEIL ARNAND, MD., RICHARD KAUL, MD., LEROY BAYLOR, JAY K. JOSHI MD., MBA, ADRIENNE EDMUNDSON, ESTER HYATT PH.D., WALTER L. SMITH BS., IN THE SPIRIT OF BRAHM FISHER ESQ., MICHELE ALEXANDER MD., CUDJOE WILDING BS, MARTIN NJOKU, BS., RPH., IN THE SPIRIT OF DEBRA LYNN SHEPHERD, BERES E. MUSCHETT, STRATEGIC ADVISORS
FROM THE WRENN RAP FILES
“ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OUTWEIGH THE FACTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES”
BY
Walter F. Wrenn,III,M.D.
President Keystone State Medical Society.
I am writing this letter as a result of action taken by a pharmacist at your store #06924 in Paoli Pa. 152 Lancaster Ave.
My patient was prescribed Suboxone, Klonopin, Ambien, and soma. She has been stable on this medication since 10/28/13 and had gotten it filled previously at this pharmacy.
This refusal to fill FDA-approved medication because the pharmacist didn’t feel comfortable sets a dangerous precedence. It is based on his opinion, not on clinical data.
PHARMACIST INTERFERING WITH THE PHYSICIAN PATIENTS RELATIONSHIP
2015
“They say, ‘We don’t feel comfortable filling the prescription,’” Giarrusso said. “They make us feel like drug addicts.”
In addition, it interferes with the doctor’s medical knowledge and treatment of his patient and puts the patient’s treatment in danger.
How can a pharmacist who knows nothing about the patient suddenly refuse to fill legally prescribed medication?
While I understand some of his reasoning, I feel the action he took is wrong and dangerous.
I appreciate our discussion but after expressing his concern, and knowing I had no difficulty with the combination he should have filled the prescriptions while noting his disagreement.
“NOT AT WALGREENS”
2017
I know there are a lot of opinions when it comes to the treatment of opiate-addicted individuals even among treating physicians.
I have spent 10 years treating and researching the pathophysiology of opiate addiction.
According to the American Medical Association, June 20, 2019 letter to CDC:
“We are concerned that such a careful approach to identifying the precise combination of pharmacologic options could be flagged on a prescription drug monitoring program as indications wrongly interpreted as so-called “doctor shopping” and cause the patient to be inappropriately questioned by a pharmacist.
The AMA strongly supports a pharmacist carrying out his or her corresponding responsibility under state and federal law, but the past few years are rife with examples of patients facing what amounts to interrogations at the pharmacy counter as well as denials of legitimate medication.
The AMA urges CDC to provide strong guidance and support for physicians and pharmacists to work together rather than jumping to conclusions about a patient’s PDMP report.”
Most of my colleagues unfortunately did not. I believe in science.
There are no clinical trials in the world where the medication I prescribed shows any contraindications. My parents have never had any adverse events from these different combinations.
DON’T MEET CRITERIA
2021
Refusal to fill these medications that are based on one’s opinion, not on facts. I would appreciate you looking into this matter and what Walgreens’ policy is.
The prescriptions were sent to CVS. After asking me for the ICD 10 codes the pharmacist at CVS filled the prescriptions.
Walter F. Wrenn,III,M.D.
President Keystone State Medical Society.
CONGRESS MUST CLEAN UP THIS MESS
FOR NOW, YOU ARE WITHIN
THE NORMS
Filed under: General Problems
They are frozen with terror, …so much so they are working hard to put any hope of an an opiate unreachably far away, and they use us patient to do it.
Who or what could cause them to fear so much? Arrest? Only the States District Attorney Generals can do that.
This should be clear to everyone that has seen their letters to State’s medical boards and to individual doctors.
AND WHY???
WHY to set up another ‘deci$ion’ in court AGAINST rich pharmaceutical manufacturers, nothing more.