# Ind. Code § 25-26-13-16: Pharmacist's professional judgment; honoring and refusal to honor prescriptions; immunity

> Indiana · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-16

## Section

- **Citation:** Ind. Code § 25-26-13-16
- **Heading:** Pharmacist's professional judgment; honoring and refusal to honor prescriptions; immunity
- **Jurisdiction:** Indiana
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Indiana Code / Title 25 / Article 26 / Chapter 13 / Section 25-26-13-16

## Text

Sec. 16. (a) A pharmacist shall exercise the pharmacist's professional judgment in the best interest of the patient's health when engaging in the practice of pharmacy.

(b) A pharmacist has a duty to honor all prescriptions from a practitioner or from a physician, podiatrist, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or veterinarian licensed under the laws of another state. Before honoring a prescription, the pharmacist shall take reasonable steps to determine whether the prescription has been issued in compliance with the laws of the state where it originated. The pharmacist is immune from criminal prosecution or civil liability if the pharmacist, in good faith, refuses to honor a prescription because, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, the honoring of the prescription would:

(1) be contrary to law;

(2) be against the best interest of the patient;

(3) aid or abet an addiction or habit; or

(4) be contrary to the health and safety of the patient.

As added by Acts 1977, P.L.276, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.156-1986, SEC.3; P.L.28-2020, SEC.1; P.L.114-2020, SEC.10.

## Nearby sections

- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-1 Public interest](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-1.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-1.5 Continuation of accrued rights or benefits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-1.5.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-2 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-2.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-3 Board of pharmacy; creation; oath; meetings; compensation; majority approval of actions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-3.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-4 Powers and duties of board; prescription drug form program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-4.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-4.1 Authority to adopt interim rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-4.1.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-4.3 Expired](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-4.3.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-4.4 Rules concerning compounding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-4.4.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-4.5 Rehabilitation of impaired pharmacists; confidentiality of information; duties of board designated rehabilitation program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-4.5.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-5 Executive director; record of proceedings; inspector-investigators](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-5.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-6 Funds from sources other than state](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-6.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-7 Enforcement of law](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-7.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-8 Repealed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-8.md)
- [Ind. Code § 25-26-13-9 Pharmacist intern programs; continuing education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-9.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T25_A26_C13_S25-26-13-16. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.