Category: Patient rights

In the United States, the rate of labor induction more than tripled between 1990 and 2020, rising from 9.6% to 31.4% [1.6.5, 1.6.4]. This rise brings questions about interventions, especially: **Can I refuse Pitocin during an induction?** The answer is yes, based on the principle of informed consent [1.2.2, 1.2.3].

Studies show that roughly two-thirds of prescription drugs may go unused after being dispensed [1.8.1]. So, can you cancel a prescription after it's been filled if you find you no longer need it? The answer is complicated and depends on when and why you're canceling.

Nearly every U.S. state operates a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) that tracks controlled substances, making it highly probable that a doctor will know if I get a prescription from another doctor for this category of medication. The visibility of non-controlled prescriptions, however, depends on various factors, including shared electronic health record systems and pharmacy networks.

Pharmacists serve as a critical checkpoint in the healthcare system, and a 2019 report revealed that Walmart pharmacists alone refused to fill hundreds of thousands of opioid prescriptions based on safety concerns. The answer to the question, "Can Walmart refuse to fill a prescription?" is definitively yes, as pharmacists are legally and ethically obligated to decline certain prescriptions to protect patient health.