When a doctor prescribes a medication, it is assumed that the patient will listen carefully to the instructions for its use, and act accordingly. This is not always the case, and in Prescription for Danger, it can be seen that there are many ways in which patients misuse their medicines. Some are reluctant to toss out old drugs, keeping them long past their effective dates. Others don't follow directions or lend medications to friends. The program gives guidelines on what to ask the doctor at the time the medicine is prescribed, and making sure the pharmacist is aware of other medications the patient is taking.