Originally Posted by xyzzy
When I obtain prescription medicine the pharmacy keeps the prescription. I assume that this is the same elsewhere, is it not? Am I supposed to make copies of these or is that not good enough for the morons at the TSA? I doubt the doctor will give me two, lest I try to obtain twice whatever it is I'm supposed to be taking. If the doctor phones the prescription in to the pharmacy I don't even *see* the prescription.
When I've traveled abroad, I've asked my doctor for prescriptions for anything I need to travel with, "just in case." But, of course, that requires the annoying step of visiting his office before travel to get them.
I have been able to hang onto a written prescription before, but only such as when the doctor has faxed or e-mailed it to the pharmacy AND given me a written one. As
xyzzy points out, for the majority of people and the majority of prescriptions, this is going to be a huge hassle. Not to mention that most people who were already traveling probably had no way of getting in to see their doctors on this short of notice. Maybe some were lucky enough to have the doc fax it to them or leave it with the office receptionist... maybe.