A patient demands a prescription for oxycodone, becomes agitated when refused, and states he will not leave the office until it is written. What is the appropriate action?

Correct answer: B. Contact emergency services (call 911)

• A. ❌ Staff should not physically remove anyone; that risks injury and creates liability.
• B. ✅ CORRECT — Once a patient refuses to leave and the situation becomes threatening, this is a SAFETY problem, not a clinical one. Contact law enforcement. Never write a controlled-substance prescription under coercion — it endangers the patient, breaches your DEA obligations, and rewards the behavior.
• C. ❌ Prescribing under threat is capitulation to coercion and is both unethical and potentially unlawful.
• D. ❌ Deceiving a patient with a placebo violates veracity and informed consent.