If you suspect a prescription is forged, tell the pharmacist and involve law enforcement if needed.

What should a pharmacy technician do if they suspect a prescription has been forged?

• A. Ignore it and continue with processing
• B. Notify the pharmacist and possibly law enforcement
• C. Ask the patient for clarification
• D. Call the doctor who wrote the prescription

Answer: (B)

When a pharmacy technician suspects that a prescription has been forged, it is crucial to act responsibly and promptly to ensure patient safety and legal compliance. Notifying the pharmacist is the appropriate course of action, as pharmacists are trained to handle such situations, including assessing the legitimacy of the prescription and determining the next steps. The pharmacist may decide to contact law enforcement if the situation warrants it, especially if there is a clear indication of fraudulent activity. Taking immediate action by notifying the pharmacist helps protect both the pharmacy and the patients from the risks associated with potentially dispensing a forged prescription. This approach ensures that a trained professional evaluates the situation with the appropriate knowledge of laws and regulations governing prescription medications and forgery. The other options may not adequately address the seriousness of the situation. Ignoring the issue can lead to illegal dispensing and consequences for the pharmacy. Asking the patient for clarification may not provide a reliable resolution since the patient could be unaware if the prescription is forged. Calling the doctor could be an appropriate step in some circumstances, but it is generally advisable to have the pharmacist assess the situation first to avoid alerting potentially fraudulent individuals.

If a prescription looks forged, what should a pharmacy technician do first? It’s a weighty question, especially in Ohio where patient safety and legal compliance ride side by side. The quick answer is simple, but the implications run deep: notify the pharmacist and, if needed, involve law enforcement. That’s the safest path for everyone involved.

Let me explain why this matters and how to handle it in a calm, practical way.

What to do first: tell the pharmacist, not the patient

• When you spot something off, pause the workflow and bring it straight to the pharmacist on duty. The pharmacist is the one who can interpret state rules, verify identities, and decide if the prescription should be filled, flagged, or rejected.

• Don’t try to confirm it yourself with the prescriber unless you’re following a formal verification process. You’re not trained to adjudicate forgery; you’re trained to protect the patient and the pharmacy’s integrity.

• If the pharmacist agrees, they may contact law enforcement or the doctor who wrote the prescription. The key is to act through the proper channels so everything stays documented and above board.

Why not the other options?

• Ignore it and keep processing: that’s a gamble with real consequences. Forged prescriptions can lead to dangerous medications getting into the wrong hands and into a patient’s system. The pharmacy could face severe legal penalties, and vulnerable patients could be harmed.

• Ask the patient for clarification: a patient might be unaware that a prescription is forged, or they may be dishonest. If you suspect fraud, it’s not a reliable way to resolve the issue. Treat all such requests with caution and refer to the pharmacist.

• Call the doctor who wrote the prescription: sometimes that can help, but it’s not your first move. A pharmacist will decide whether a direct call to the prescriber is appropriate and safe, and will handle direct contact in a controlled, documented way.

A practical, step-by-step approach you can use

• Step 1: Stop processing. Do not dispense or alter the prescription in question. Your first move is to pause and protect the medication’s chain of custody.

• Step 2: Document what you notice. Jot down the red flags you observed: handwriting oddities, dates or dosages that don’t match the patient’s history, a prescription pad look-alike, altered dates, or suspicious refill requests. The more precise you are, the better for the pharmacist.

• Step 3: Present the note and the prescription to the pharmacist. Share everything you’ve observed and hand over the physical prescription or digital record as required by your system.

• Step 4: Follow the pharmacist’s lead. They’ll assess the situation, verify the prescription through approved channels, and decide the next steps. They may verify the prescriber’s identity, contact the doctor, or involve law enforcement if fraud is suspected.

• Step 5: Preserve the interaction. Keep your notes, timestamps, and any communications intact. Lock down who handled what and when. This creates a clear trail for audits, if needed.

• Step 6: Communicate with the patient carefully. If you must speak with the patient, keep it respectful and non-accusatory. The pharmacist should supervise any discussion about the legitimacy of the prescription.

Red flags that might suggest forgery (in plain language)

• Handwriting or signature that doesn’t resemble the prescriber’s known style.

• The prescriber’s name is unfamiliar or the contact details seem off or inconsistent with what you’ve seen before.

• The dosage, quantity, or medication form appears unusual for the patient’s history.

• Modifications look like they were made after the prescription left the prescriber’s hands (erasable ink, smudges, altered dates).

• The prescription looks like it was copied or printed from a suspicious source.

• The patient cannot provide a plausible backstory, or pressure to fill quickly is intense.

Ohio-specific context that matters to a pharmacy team

• The pharmacist has the final say on dispensing, with a duty to protect patient safety and comply with state law. In Ohio, this means following standards set by the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy and any internal policy your pharmacy uses for suspected fraud.

• Ohio also supports using the state’s prescription monitoring framework. If something isn’t right, the pharmacist can consult the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS) to check a patient’s prescription history and patterns. This is a powerful check against potential forgery or misuse.

• Privacy and professional boundaries matter. While you’re on the lookout for fraud, you’re still bound by patient confidentiality rules. Share only what’s necessary with the pharmacist, and let them handle sensitive inquiries or notifications to authorities.

• Documentation isn’t a one-off step. It’s part of daily practice, especially when you’re dealing with something as serious as a possible forged prescription. A clean, detailed record protects patients, staff, and the business.

What this looks like in real life

Imagine you’re closing out a routine prescription, and something about the form doesn’t sit right—perhaps the prescriber’s name is unusual for that patient’s usual doctor, or the date seems dubious. You don’t panic. You calmly pivot to your pharmacist, present the red flags, and stand ready to assist with any verification steps. The pharmacist may ask you to pause the dispense process and might initiate a phone call to the prescriber for confirmation—or potentially to law enforcement if the situation meets that threshold.

That moment—when you switch from processing to protecting—feels small, but it’s huge in impact. It’s where the daily trust in a pharmacy team is tested and reinforced. The patient’s safety is the north star, and the right actions keep the entire system honest.

A few practical habits to keep you prepared

• Know your pharmacy’s policy inside out. If your facility has a standard checklist for suspected forgery, use it. If not, advocate for one. A simple, repeatable process saves time and reduces mistakes.

• Build familiarity with the local rules. Ohio’s boards and agencies provide guidelines that help you separate normal questions from red flags. When in doubt, ask the pharmacist to lead.

• Use your tech tools thoughtfully. Prescription verification systems and PDMP tools—not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a helpful layer of safety. They can reveal patterns or inconsistencies that aren’t obvious at first glance.

• Keep a calm, helpful tone with every patient. Even in tense moments, a respectful approach reduces confusion and keeps interactions professional.

A quick reminder about the big picture

Forged prescriptions aren’t just a regulatory headache; they’re a risk to patient health. The best response is swift, coordinated action that centers on the pharmacist’s expertise and your team’s shared responsibility. By sticking to a clear protocol, documenting what you observe, and escalating to the pharmacist (and, when appropriate, law enforcement), you safeguard the people who come to your pharmacy for care.

If you’re new to this field or still building confidence, you’ll find that confidence grows from practice and consistency. You’ll notice patterns, learn which questions to ask, and understand the balance between caution and efficiency. The goal isn’t to be perfect every time, but to respond quickly and correctly when something doesn’t feel right.

Final takeaway: trust the process, not the impulse

If a prescription looks forged, your move is to notify the pharmacist and, if needed, law enforcement. You don’t guess, you don’t chase a hunch with a loud, off-script reply, and you don’t skip steps. You protect patients, you protect the pharmacy, and you uphold the integrity of care that sits at the heart of every pharmacy team in Ohio.

If you want to read more about how these principles play out in everyday pharmacy life, look for materials and case studies from Ohio-based pharmacist associations or your employer’s policy guides. They’re a treasure trove for turning this kind of high-stakes moment into a smooth, practiced routine. And remember: when in doubt, lean on the pharmacist. That partnership is what keeps our communities safer, one prescription at a time.