What is required for a pharmacist to conduct therapeutic substitution?

For a pharmacist to conduct therapeutic substitution, obtaining informed consent from the patient is crucial. This process ensures that the patient understands the substituted medication, including its purpose, potential side effects, and how it differs from the originally prescribed medication. Informed consent reflects the ethical and legal standards of patient care, as it empowers patients in their treatment decisions and fosters a collaborative relationship between the pharmacist and the patient.

The other options, while they may play a role in the overall medication management process, do not specifically fulfill the requirement for therapeutic substitution. For example, a policy from the pharmacy might guide how substitutions are handled, but it does not involve the patient directly. Counsel from a peer pharmacist can provide valuable insights but does not replace the need for patient consent. Similarly, a prescription from a specialist may inform treatment decisions but is not a direct requirement for therapeutic substitution, particularly since therapeutic substitution involves changing medications that may not require re-evaluation by a specialist. Thus, informed consent stands out as the essential requirement in this context.