According to Standard 10 of the HPA Bylaws Schedule F Part 8 – Making a Diagnosis and Prescribing Standards, Limits and Conditions:
“A pharmacist must review or conduct a patient assessment to support their diagnosis and/or prescribing decisions. The assessment must include the following as feasible and applicable, but is not limited to these factors…”
A pharmacist can review a patient assessment conducted by another health professional and use that assessment to support the pharmacist’s own diagnosis and prescribing decisions. A pharmacist is expected to use their professional judgment to determine if using another health professional’s assessment, would be appropriate and to ensure they have all the necessary information to make a diagnosis or prescribing decision that is safe and in the best interest of the patient.
In this situation, the pharmacist who diagnoses and prescribes for the patient is still required to follow the Standards, Limits and Conditions, including obtaining the patient’s or patient representative’s informed consent, having appropriate understanding of the patient need, providing the patient with drug information including patient-specific information, and establishing and documenting a follow-up and monitoring plan.
A pharmacist who makes a diagnosis or prescribes a drug is solely responsible for their treatment decision.