Pubdate: Mon, 30 Jul 2001
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (WV)
Copyright: 2001 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/hdinfo/letters.html
Website: http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Clifford Schaffer

LAW PROHIBITS RETURN OF UNUSED PRESCRIPTIONS

A recent letter writer here said that unused portions of prescriptions 
should be required to be returned.

There are obvious problems with returning any prescription -- the biggest 
one being that the pharmacist has no idea what may have happened to the 
medicine before it was returned.

But there are laws on the books stating that it is illegal to give 
prescription medicines to someone other than the intended party. I might 
also add that anyone who takes a prescription intended for another person 
is showing a profound lack of judgment -- just like the person who gave it 
to them.

As this example demonstrates, laws don't do a lot of good if people don't 
have the good judgment not to endanger themselves.

Clifford Schaffer Aqua Dulce, Calif.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom