What must a pharmacist ensure before dispensing medications?

The correct choice emphasizes the critical responsibility of pharmacists to verify all prescriptions before dispensing medications. This verification process includes checking the accuracy of the prescription, ensuring that it complies with legal and regulatory standards, confirming the appropriateness of the medication for the patient’s condition, and checking for potential drug interactions or allergies.

Verification is essential for patient safety and ensuring quality care. It helps to identify any errors such as incorrect dosages, inappropriate drug selections, or potential harmful drug interactions, which could arise from an oversight in the prescription process. By confirming that the prescription is valid, the pharmacist upholds standards of practice and protects the health of patients.

Other options present actions that could lead to unsafe or unethical practices. For example, following a patient's request without considering legality could endanger the patient’s well-being and violate pharmacy laws. Skipping verification to save time compromises patient safety, and refilling prescriptions solely based on a request could overlook necessary checks on the patient's current health status and needs. Thus, ensuring that all prescriptions are thoroughly verified is foundational to pharmacy practice and patient care.