Must a PCP, By Definition, Have Full or Even Partial Prescritive Authority for Pharmaceutical Drugs?
Prescription pharmaceutical drugs are not essential for the majority of the population most of the time. When needed, referral to a provider authorized to prescribe those drugs would be appropriate. A question may arise about acute situations involving infection or pain when time is of the essence. With regard to infection and the use of pharmaceutical antibiotics, the current standard of care is being re-examined. Many sources tell the story of how pharmaceutical antibiotics have not been prescribed and managed appropriately by allopaths and osteopaths over the last half-century, resulting in an alarming and increasing number of resistant bacteria. Our profession has valid options for treating infections in many cases. Perhaps their use will become increasingly desirable over the next couple of decades, and the prescription of pharmaceutical antibiotics will be reserved for use by specialists in a much more restricted and carefully scrutinized manner. In situations involving pain, whe
