1. A. If, based on generally accepted professional standards for the practice of pharmacy, a pharmacist has reason to believe, or should have reason to believe, that a prescription for a controlled dangerous substance was not issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of the prescriber's practice, the pharmacist may not dispense the controlled dangerous substance until the pharmacist:

   1. (1) Consults with the prescriber; and
   2. (2) Verifies the medical legitimacy of the prescription.

2. B. If, after consulting with the prescriber, and based on generally accepted professional standards for the practice of pharmacy, a pharmacist has reason to believe that the prescription for a controlled dangerous substance was not issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of the prescriber's practice, the pharmacist shall:

   1. (1) Refuse to dispense the drug; and
   2. (2) Report the incident to the regulatory board that licenses the prescriber.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§1-212, 12-205, and 12-601, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: August 3, 1981 (8:15 Md. R. 1307)

Regulation .01 amended effective February 19, 1990 (17:3 Md. R. 299)

Chapter, Standards of Pharmacy Practice, repealed and new chapter, Pharmacist Code of Conduct, adopted effective July 12, 1999 (26:14 Md. R. 1082)

Regulation .01 amended effective November 12, 2001 (28:22 Md. R. 1937)

Regulation .02 amended effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127); July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569)

Regulation .03 amended effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127); July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569)

Regulation .04 amended effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127); July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569)

Regulation .05 amended effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127); July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569)

Regulation .06A, B amended effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127); July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569)

Regulation .07A, C amended effective July 1, 2015 (42:7 Md. R. 569)

Regulation .07C adopted effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127)

Regulation .09 amended effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127)

Regulation .10 adopted effective February 1, 2016 (43:2 Md. R. 127)