A pharmacist discovers a dispensing error where a patient received metformin instead of metoprolol. The patient has a history of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The patient has not yet taken the incorrect medication. What is the most appropriate next step the pharmacist should take after retrieving the incorrect medication?

Question: A pharmacist discovers a dispensing error where a patient received metformin instead of metoprolol. The patient has a history of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The patient has not yet taken the incorrect medication. What is the most appropriate next step the pharmacist should take after retrieving the incorrect medication?

Answer options: ✅ Document the error in the pharmacy's incident reporting system.

• Contact the prescribing physician to inform them of the error.
• Dispense the correct medication immediately and counsel the patient.
• Apologize to the patient and offer a discount on their next prescription.

Correct answer: Document the error in the pharmacy's incident reporting system.

Explanation: Reporting the error through the pharmacy's incident reporting system (e.g., local provincial college, internal system) is a crucial step for quality improvement, identifying system vulnerabilities, and preventing recurrence. While the other options are relevant, error reporting is foundational for medication safety.