What is a potential consequence of improper stock rotation in a pharmacy?

Improper stock rotation in a pharmacy can lead to medication errors, primarily through the use of expired or outdated medications. Stock rotation is crucial to ensure that medications are dispensed in the order they were received, which generally means that older stock is used first. If newer stock is placed in front of older stock—or if there is no systematic approach to rotating stock—there is a heightened risk that a product may expire on the shelves before it is dispensed to a patient.

When expired medications are given to patients, it affects their health and safety, as those medications may not be effective or could potentially cause harm. This can result in significant consequences, including therapeutic failures, adverse drug reactions, and loss of patient trust. Additionally, such medication errors can lead to liability issues for the pharmacy, reinforcing the critical nature of proper stock rotation practices to maintain patient safety and avoid these significant risks.