Section 657.8.20. Valid prescriber/patient relationship.

Prescription drug orders and medication orders shall be valid as long as a prescriber/patient relationship exists. Once the prescriber/patient relationship is broken and the prescriber is no longer available to treat the patient or oversee the patient’s use of a prescription drug, the order loses its validity and the pharmacist, on becoming aware of the situation, shall cancel the order and any remaining refills. The pharmacist shall, however, exercise prudent judgment based upon individual circumstances to ensure that the patient is able to obtain a sufficient amount of the prescribed drug to continue treatment until the patient can reasonably obtain the service of another prescriber and a new order can be issued.