A physician requests a verbal prescription for alprazolam without evaluating the patient. What is the most appropriate response by the pharmacist?

The appropriateness of the pharmacist's response in this scenario revolves around the concept of legitimate medical purpose and the standards for issuing prescriptions. According to pharmacy law, prescriptions must be written in the context of a valid doctor-patient relationship, which includes a thorough evaluation by the physician.

In this situation, the physician has requested a verbal prescription for alprazolam—a Schedule IV controlled substance—without having evaluated the patient. This action raises concerns about compliance with the legal requirement for a prescription to be issued for a legitimate medical purpose. A key principle in pharmacy practice is that prescriptions should only be issued based on an appropriate assessment of the patient's medical needs, which ensures patient safety and aligns with the legal standards of practice.

Therefore, the pharmacist has the responsibility to ensure each prescription meets these criteria before dispensing medication. Filling a prescription that lacks this essential evaluation is not in accordance with legal and ethical standards, making it clear that the correct response is that the prescription cannot be filled due to the lack of a legitimate medical purpose. This safeguards the integrity of the pharmacy practice and protects patients from potential harm.