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FAQ

No.  A pharmacist must not prescribe a drug or blood product unless the intended use is:

  1. An indication approved by Health Canada,
  2. Considered a best practice or accepted clinical practice in peer-reviewed clinical literature, or
  3. Part of an approved research protocol.
(Standard 11.6, Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians)

Prescribing Schedule 2 and 3 drugs is not a restricted activity. It is not mandatory to notify other members of the patient’s health team; however, pharmacists will use their discretion to determine when it is appropriate to do so.

See the Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians for responsibilities when selling either Schedule 2 or 3 drugs.

The concept of "informed consent" was developed on the premise of two distinct components: 

  1. patients’ rights to determine what happens to their bodies, and
  2. health professionals’ inherent duty to provide patients with enough information to make an informed decision.

Generally, for a patient’s consent to medical treatment to be acceptable

  • the consent must be voluntary,
  • the patient must have the capacity to consent, and
  • the patient must be properly informed.

This restriction is based on similar codes of conduct in place for other health professionals who have the authority to prescribe. When you are emotionally involved, there is a chance that your professional judgment may be compromised; for this reason you must not prescribe for yourself, your family members, or others with whom you have a close personal relationship except in an emergency.

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