The crisis of drug shortages, largely misrepresented by debates about a need for better policy, is fundamentally about the patient–provider relationship. This ongoing crisis continues to put providers in the uncomfortable position of whether to inform a patient of the problem. In addition to that predicament, companies and organizations continue to search for solutions to the shortages, with little progress so far. But a breakthrough may be close as emerging advanced technology and improved communication among industry, policymakers and providers are increasing the options available for alleviating this crisis. Those efforts could hold the potential to make these drug shortages and the ethical dilemma inherent in the patient–provider relationship obsolete.