Prescriptions

One More Toy

How are they verified as being true and authentic? Whats to stop me going in with a photocopy?

locum-motion

Even when a prescription is printed from a computer, it is not a valid legal prescription until it has been signed, by hand and in ink, by the prescriber.

Handwriting, once photocopied, always looks different. A photocopy of a signature is easily spotted. It tends to have fuzzy edges, and there is no impression in the paper made by the pressure of the pen.

If there's any doubt, it's easy to contact the Dr to verify the prescription. And if the drug in question is one that's liable to abuse, the pharmacists will probably err on the side of caution and refuse to supply.

Also, you ask "Whats to stop me going in with a photocopy?" If you're tempted, remember that it is a criminal offence to do so. If I were presented with a photocopied script for a drug of abuse and I suspected that the person presenting it were doing so in order to obtain more of the medicine than the doctor wanted them to have, I would immediately call the Guards.

One More Toy

locum-motion wrote: »

Even when a prescription is printed from a computer, it is not a valid legal prescription until it has been signed, by hand and in ink, by the prescriber.

Handwriting, once photocopied, always looks different. A photocopy of a signature is easily spotted. It tends to have fuzzy edges, and there is no impression in the paper made by the pressure of the pen.

If there's any doubt, it's easy to contact the Dr to verify the prescription. And if the drug in question is one that's liable to abuse, the pharmacists will probably err on the side of caution and refuse to supply.

Also, you ask "Whats to stop me going in with a photocopy?" If you're tempted, remember that it is a criminal offence to do so. If I were presented with a photocopied script for a drug of abuse and I suspected that the person presenting it were doing so in order to obtain more of the medicine than the doctor wanted them to have, I would immediately call the Guards.

Under what law just out of curiosity? is anyone ever done for it?

locum-motion

One More Toy wrote: »

Under what law just out of curiosity? is anyone ever done for it?

I'm a pharmacist, not a lawyer, but take your pick, depending on the circumstances:
Misuse of Drugs Act
Medicinal Products (Prescription & Control of Supply) Regulations
even just straightforward theft/fraud (if it involves a situation where the State pays for the meds, for example)