Legal significance of drug interactions.

Adverse drug interactions have always been of concern to the physician and pharmacist. Recently such events have been used as the basis for malpractice suits involving health professionals. Pharmacists have both a professional duty to avert such interactions if possible and a legal duty to know their responsibilities in this area. Patient counseling, the maintenance of patient profiles, and familiarity with the drug interaction literature through continuing education opportunities can aid pharmacists in detecting or preventing adverse interactions, while familiarity with the liability laws can help pharmacists protect their practices.