
When your doctor won’t let you see your prescription, you need to talk to a pharmacist
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By Jessica DiClementeCNN August 12, 2017 11:00:00If you need your doctor to give you a prescription, it might not be a good idea to ask him or her for it yourself.
That’s the message from an FDA warning letter sent to health care providers across the country this week.
It was sent to doctors, pharmacists and other health care workers who want to give their patients prescriptions.
The FDA warns that people who refuse to see their prescription can face fines and up to a year in jail if they don’t return it.
The warning letter says those who refuse should report the situation to the local police.
If you are not sure if you have the right to refuse, call the local law enforcement department.
They can give you instructions on how to contact the authorities if you don’t comply.
But if you are an emergency room doctor or other health professional who is refusing to give your patient a prescription to treat their illness, the FDA warns you that your doctor could face criminal charges if you do not return it within 72 hours.
The agency warned that the law may not apply to the person’s physician, as the physician would be the one who receives the medication.
The letter does not address the potential penalties if the person refuses to return the prescription, and the FDA did not provide any specifics about the type of violation it may apply to.
The warning letter also says doctors and pharmacists who don’t follow directions can face civil fines of up to $1,000 per violation.
In response to the warning letter, the American Medical Association is asking that the FDA reconsider its guidelines and clarify its intent.
It has called on the FDA to include a provision allowing patients to refuse to receive a prescription from a health care provider without fear of legal consequences.