Final answer:
A pharmacist can release a patient's remaining medication doses at discharge if they follow the appropriate legal and hospital regulations. The environmental impact of disposing unused medication must be considered to prevent water pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
At discharge, a pharmacist may release a patient's remaining doses of medication as long as it adheres to legal and hospital regulations. The medication must be labeled, have not been tampered with, and be in its original packaging. There's also an important environmental aspect to consider regarding the proper disposal of unused or expired drugs to prevent environmental pollution. Many pharmaceuticals are excreted via urine or feces, and improper disposal can lead to medications entering the aquatic environment, resulting in pharmaceutical residues in the water.