NOTE:
You should be cautious when making a judgment about a person based
strictly upon the questions above. Remember, the patient may just have
been released from the hospital after a very severe illness and may not look
"normal."
b. The Appearance of the Prescription. You should carefully examine each
prescription that is presented to you. In particular, you should examine each
prescription for a controlled substance and ask yourself these questions:
(1) Does the handwriting and signature on the prescription match that of the
prescriber's signature on file in the pharmacy?
(2) Does the prescription reflect the correct rank and social security account
number of the prescriber?
(3) Do the directions to the patient correspond to the class of drug for which
the prescription is written? For example, a physician probably would not provide the
patient with the following directions for secobarbital: "Take 2 capsules 4 times daily as
needed for pain."
(4) Does the quantity and drug prescribed correspond to the clinic or ward
at which the prescription was written? For example, you would probably not expect a
dentist to prescribe Dexedrine tablets or a large quantity of a potent narcotic analgesic.
(5) Does the quantity written on the prescription look as if it has been
changed? For example, are some numbers written in blue ink while others are written
in black ink? Remember, a line can be added to a quantity of 10 changing it to 40. In
addition, does it look as if a zero has been added? For example, was a prescription
originally written for 10 tablets changed by the forger to read 100 tablets? It is
recommended that on prescriptions for controlled substances the amount prescribed
should be shown in both numerals and spelled out in words, that is, #40 (forty), #10
(ten).
(6) Does the refill information fit the use of the drug? Remember, Note R
items cannot be refilled. Again, all the above are indicators that a forgery may have
taken place.
MD0812
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