Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 216 - Department of health
Chapter 40 - Professional licensing and facility regulation
Subchapter 15 - Pharmacy
Part 1 - Pharmacists, Pharmacies, and Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Distributors
Section 216-RICR-40-15-1.3 - Code of Professional Conduct for Pharmacists and Pharmacies

1. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall at all times conduct professional activities in conformity with Federal, State and municipal laws, ordinances and/or Regulations, including the Regulations of the Board.

2. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall not dispense drugs, devices, or other substances in a manner which is intended, either directly or indirectly, to circumvent the law.

3. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall observe the standards of the current United States Pharmacopoeia in addition to State laws and Regulations.

4. While on duty, a pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall be responsible for the proper preservation and security of all drugs in the pharmacy or pharmacy department, including the proper refrigeration and storage of said drugs.

5. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall not engage in any fraudulent or deceptive act.

6. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall not in any way aid or abet the unlawful practice of pharmacy.

7. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall not knowingly dispense or distribute expired, outdated or otherwise substandard drugs or devices or counterfeit drugs or devices to any person or entity.

8. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall not knowingly dispense or distribute drugs or devices to any person or entity who is not licensed or legally authorized to receive such drugs or devices.

9. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department may dispense prescription drugs by mail or common carrier in a manner consistent with Federal and State laws and Regulations, including the Regulations of the Board. All pharmacists shall have available sufficient information to contact the patient and the prescribing practitioner.

10. A pharmacist, pharmacy, pharmacy department, pharmaceutical organization or pharmacy corporation shall not provide any practitioner with prescription blanks which refer to any pharmacist, pharmacy or pharmacy department.

11. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall not purchase drug samples for the purpose of compounding, dispensing, or in any way reselling these samples.

12. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall comply with the mandatory counseling provisions contained in State and Federal laws.

13. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall maintain patient confidentiality at all times. Confidential information shall include information maintained by the pharmacist in the patient's records or information which is communicated to the patient as part of patient counseling, which is privileged and may be released only to the patient or to those practitioners and other pharmacists where, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, such release is necessary to protect the patient's health and well being; and to such other persons or governmental agencies authorized by law to receive such confidential information.

14. A pharmacist-in-charge, registered pharmacist, pharmacy, or anyone acting on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacy department shall not obtain any remuneration by fraud, misrepresentation, or deception, including, but not limited to, receiving remuneration for amending or modifying, or attempting to amend or modify, a patient's pharmaceutical services, absent a clear benefit to the patient.