What information must a pharmacist verify before dispensing a controlled substance?

A pharmacist must verify several critical pieces of information before dispensing a controlled substance to ensure patient safety and compliance with legal regulations. The correct choice emphasizes verifying the prescription validity, the patient's identity, and proper authorization.

Prescription validity is crucial as it confirms whether the prescription is legitimate, written by a qualified practitioner, and appropriate for the patient's condition. Verifying the patient's identity ensures that the medication is being provided to the correct individual, which is essential in preventing medication errors and safeguarding against potential misuse or diversion of controlled substances. Proper authorization pertains to ensuring that the prescriber has the right credentials to prescribe controlled medications, thus adhering to state and federal regulations.

The other choices contain relevant elements but do not encompass the necessary combination of factors that directly address the legal obligations a pharmacist must fulfill. For instance, verifying insurance eligibility or a doctor's contact does not intrinsically relate to the accuracy and legality of the prescription itself. Elements such as the doctor's license number or the patient's age, while important in some contexts, do not cover the broader scope of confirming that all necessary aspects of the prescription are valid and authorized. Therefore, focusing on these three core components—prescription validity, patient identity, and proper authorization—aligns with the responsibilities placed on pharmacists in Delaware to ensure the