Earlier today I received a call from one of my customers. I am new to the place so I don’t really know the pt population yet. A pt called me and asked me for a refill on her medication. She told me that she needed an early refill on her medication because her son just died.

I need to tell you that my first thought was - oh god, this is a fill on norco or something!

Then I felt bad…REALLY BAD! She started telling me her story. She was crying while she told me that her son was currently living in London and was beaten to death by four men because he was gay. She needed to fly over there tonight and gather his body and belongings.

I felt so bad! but more so, I felt so sad for her!!!

The medication wasn’t Norco. It was just a chronic therapy medication.

She never came by, but her cousin did to pick up her pills.

How do I handle a pt like that? What roles do I play as a pharmacist to help her in her grief. No, what roles do I play as a person to help her?