End Therapeutic Substitution without Knowledge or Consent of Patients or Doctors

It is currently legal for pharmacies to switch a patient's prescription drug to a generic drug without prior notification or consent of the patient or the doctor. Often times, patients are strong-armed into taking the generic drug because of change of insurance coverage that is previously unknown to them before they run out of medication and need a refill. Moreover, drug switching without notifying the patient's care provider or reviewing patient medical history exposes patient to potential health risks. This is an unethical practice that deprives a patient of his or her right to refuse a drug, and potentially endangers a patient's health. Pharmacy/Insurance company should be required to notify patients of coverage changes well before their refill date and switch should require consent.