Today’s world have a sever crunch for doctors especially in the under developing world, and in some developing countries governments where thinking of introducing short term course for solving doctors shortage and all your discussions above conclude one point very fairly that Pharmacist is the person who have got an in-depth knowledge in medicine, but lacks knowledge in diagnosis. Still they claim to have prescription rights.

To conclude such problems and to bring out an end point to the topic named Prescriptive Authority - Are Pharmacists “Write”?”. The regulatory authority of different countries can afford a BS Program [Bachelor of Surgery] containing 2 yr including house surgeon program. To this kind of high end skilled Pharmacist, so there by giving the above said right too.. And coming out with a permanent solution for the same.

Thank’s and Regard’s

Alin J.S. Jinu

I am a medical doctor who worked closely with Pharm.D pharmacists in patient care, teaching medical and pharmacy students and residents, and conducting clinical trials. This experience has given me some familiarity with the training and competency of this cadre of pharmacists.

I think we need to clarify between different categories of pharmacists– those who have doctorate degrees and completed residencies, those with a Doctorate degrees and no residency, and those with college/master degrees (R.Ph.).

I have seen highly qualified pharm.d who have completed residencies… i.e. with expertise in pain, cancer, heart failure be equally qualified (and sometimes more qualified than non-specialist MDs) in the management of medications pertaining to selecting alternate meds, adjusting dose etc. I would,however, reserve diagnosis of a condition which subsequent initial recommendation of treatment to MDs.

Dr Brad

We give the doctor the training and the right to prescribe the drugs, but we don’t let him have access to the stash.

We give the pharmacist the training and the right to dispense the drugs, but we don’t let her write prescriptions to the stash.

While the pharmacist has an important role and is the expert on the drugs, that role is secondary to the doctor who is the expert on the treatment. A pharmacist can (and should) “veto” a prescription that is demonstrably harmful, fraudulent, or contraindicated - an important check on the doctor against possible mistakes.

However, absent “probable cause”, the pharmacist must dispense a legal prescription, because otherwise we are allowing a pharmacist to intrude on the doctor-patient relationship.

In the case of so-called “conscience” pharmacists who refuse to dispense birth control or Plan B? Way out of line. Your conscience or your job - if you really believe birth control is murder, find a new job.