Which term specifically refers to the formal written order to obtain a drug?

• A. authorization
• B. consent
• C. prescription
• D. order

Answer: (C)

A prescription is the formal written instruction from a licensed clinician directing a pharmacist to dispense a specific medication to a patient. It isn’t just general permission or agreement; it includes essential details such as the patient’s name, the drug name and strength, dosage form, dosing instructions, quantity, and the prescriber’s signature (and date). This combination of specifics creates a legally operative document that enables the medication to be obtained from a pharmacy. Authorization is broader, referring to permission to perform an act; consent is the patient’s agreement to treatment; an order can be a hospital directive but isn’t the standard document used to obtain medications at a community pharmacy. Prescriptions can now be written or electronic, but the core idea remains: a clinician’s formal directive to obtain a drug.