# Pharmacist prescribing debate \[continued\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 2, 2011, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173 "2011-08-02T12:10:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zereadam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/df788c/32.png) [@zereadam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zereadam)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/1 "2011-08-02T12:10:55Z")
To tell you the truth,no medical doctors will be authorized to prescribe a single drug except the pharmacist.MD’s will be solely responsible for diagnosis and no more uppermost in the health system of the world.Time comes and goes …they got the upper hand because they practice it early without the full knowledge to do so.They prevent pharmacists not to practice their respective duties for much more years through different ways including using the leadership they possess in the health settings. Now is the time to break up the physicians hidden agenda of preventing the other professionals from attaining their duties and responsibilities to the maximum. Pharmacists are the future sole prescribers!!. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/2 "2011-08-02T12:14:53Z")
> [@zereadam](#): > > To tell you the truth,no medical doctors will be authorized to prescribe a single drug except the pharmacist.MD’s will be solely responsible for diagnosis and no more uppermost in the health system of the world. Given that pharmacists have a demonstrated willingness to use their control over dispensing drugs as a club to beat on people they don’t like, I hope they have less authority not more in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/3 "2011-08-02T12:16:54Z")
I have looked into the future and I see a mod approaching on horseback. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/4 "2011-08-02T12:19:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I have looked into the future and I see a mod approaching on horseback. Given the subject matter of the thread, that would be Pestilence, right? ---
**Author:** ![zereadam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/df788c/32.png) [@zereadam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zereadam)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/5 "2011-08-02T12:33:09Z")
[COLOR=“Red”]THERE SHOULD BE A SHIFT IN POWER BASED ON KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL.THE PHARMACISTS ARE THE PIONEER PRESCRIBERS THAN MD’S.WE SHOULD STOP AND THINK ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE PATIENT NOT ABOUT THE SHIFT OF POWER. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/6 "2011-08-02T12:37:15Z")
Ah, yes, Colored All Caps is always the path to wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![zereadam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/df788c/32.png) [@zereadam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zereadam)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/7 "2011-08-02T13:03:45Z")
See, a lot of governments are legitimate to their people and allow a pharmacist to prescribe including USA,Canada,UK,South Africa,Australia etc.A doctor of pharmacy(PharmD ) is opened in almost most of them including developing countries…this is a revolution for the prescribing authority of a pharmacist.Any layman can understand who should prescribe a drug: a drug expert or diagnosis expert? No question to ask about the authority but, due to the early comes will benefit …MD’s had the position for a century.Now is the time to break up and give to those who should be responsible based on knowledge and skill. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/8 "2011-08-02T13:04:59Z")
> [@zereadam](#): > > Now is the time to break up and give to those who should be responsible based on knowledge and skill. They’ve demonstrated themselves to be unworthy of the responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/9 "2011-08-02T13:53:25Z")
[This is a continuation of this this thread from 2007.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14091073) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/10 "2011-08-02T14:14:43Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [This is a continuation of this this thread from 2007.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14091073) I have a lengthy reply almost ready, but have some pressing matters that need attended to. Be back in early 2015. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/11 "2011-08-02T14:15:34Z")
Yeah, because we all know how impartial and prudent doctors have been with prescribing drugs, not ever letting their decisions be swayed by perks from drug marketing reps. So of course the pharmacists who actually SELL the drugs will have no problems along those lines either. [/sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/12 "2011-08-02T14:38:22Z")
I don’t know about pharmacists, but the OP has convinced me that the first part of [this thread’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=618620) title is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/13 "2011-08-02T14:48:30Z")
> [@zereadam](#): > > To tell you the truth,no medical doctors will be authorized to prescribe a single drug except the pharmacist.MD’s will be solely responsible for diagnosis and no more uppermost in the health system of the world.Time comes and goes …they got the upper hand because they practice it early without the full knowledge to do so.They prevent pharmacists not to practice their respective duties for much more years through different ways including using the leadership they possess in the health settings. Now is the time to break up the physicians hidden agenda of preventing the other professionals from attaining their duties and responsibilities to the maximum. Pharmacists are the future sole prescribers!!. How exciting!! Do you have any cites to back up your assertions?? Is the color red, like, a supercool color to post in?? Do you plan on responding to anyone here, or are we just a dumping ground for your “revelations”?? ---
**Author:** ![OneMissedPost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OneMissedPost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneMissedPost)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/14 "2011-08-02T17:48:26Z")
> [@zereadam](#): > > To tell you the truth,no medical doctors will be authorized to prescribe a single drug except the pharmacist.MD’s will be solely responsible for diagnosis and no more uppermost in the health system of the world.Time comes and goes …they got the upper hand because they practice it early without the full knowledge to do so.They prevent pharmacists not to practice their respective duties for much more years through different ways including using the leadership they possess in the health settings. Now is the time to break up the physicians hidden agenda of preventing the other professionals from attaining their duties and responsibilities to the maximum. Pharmacists are the future sole prescribers!!. Huh??? Where are you getting this information? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/15 "2011-08-02T19:27:25Z")
As I have already demonstrated Nostradamus-like powers in foretelling the Approach Of The Mods, ye mortals must pay heed to my next prediction. Physicians’ near-monopoly on prescribing drugs will indeed come to an end, but not (as **zereadam** anticipates) in favor of pharmacists. In the coming Libertarian Utopia eagerly anticipated by Ron Paul, Rand Paul and the Paul St. Journal, drugs will be freely sold and marketed without any need to demonstrate effectiveness, safety, or necessity. People will be able to buy them freely over the Internet without a prescription. Got a cure for cancer compounded of hippopotamus turds and industrial solvents? You’ll be able to manufacture, promote and sell it with no restrictions whatsoever to whomever you like. I’m afraid there is no room in this equation for pharmacists. They will be obsolete, reduced to the role of clerks selling hair shampoo and trusses. ---
**Author:** ![OneMissedPost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OneMissedPost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneMissedPost)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/16 "2011-08-02T20:02:39Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I’m afraid there is no room in this equation for pharmacists. They will be obsolete, reduced to the role of clerks selling hair shampoo and trusses. Once again, I need to ask where are you getting this information? Pharmacists won’t be obsolete. There has actually been [a rise in the number of pharmacists](http://www.touro.edu/media/pr/tourointhenews/pdfs/Supply_of_Pharmacists_in_Work_Force_Has_Improved.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/17 "2011-08-02T20:08:28Z")
> [@OneMissedPost](#): > > Once again, I need to ask where are you getting this information? “That’s a joke, I say, that’s a joke, son.” [/Foghorn Leghorn] ---
**Author:** ![OneMissedPost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OneMissedPost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneMissedPost)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/18 "2011-08-02T20:12:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “That’s a joke, I say, that’s a joke, son.” [/Foghorn Leghorn] I couldn’t tell if it was serious or not. Sorry for the misintepretation. By the way, I love Foghorn Leghorn. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/19 "2011-08-02T20:24:47Z")
> [@OneMissedPost](#): > > Once again, I need to ask where are you getting this information? Pharmacists won’t be obsolete. There has actually been [a rise in the number of pharmacists](http://www.touro.edu/media/pr/tourointhenews/pdfs/Supply_of_Pharmacists_in_Work_Force_Has_Improved.pdf). There is a rise in the number of pharmacists, because there are more schools producing them. The job market for pharmacists is getting a lot more competitive, and it is not at all the same market it was 5 years ago. There has already been a large push to automate much of what RPhs do and cut them out essentially as the middle man, take a look at any of the trade magazines and they’re all about automating prescription production so there is less of a need for highly paid pharmacists. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173/20 "2011-08-02T20:43:17Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “That’s a joke, I say, that’s a joke, son.” [/Foghorn Leghorn] It’s no joke that the libertarian crowd wants to [curtail or eliminate the power of regulatory agencies](http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=3226) (chiefly the FDA) to approve medications (the buzzword/phrase is “health freedom”). The [del]Wall[/del] [Paul St. Journal](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704271804575405203894857436.html) has repeatedly attacked the FDA for not okaying new cancer drugs fast enough, including blasting the agency for rescinding the approval of Avastin for treating breast cancer on the grounds that it is not effective and has potentially lethal side effects. It doesn’t seem likely at this point that the Pauls, like-minded libertarians and allies in the pharmaceutical and supplement industry will succeed in stripping away all protections against the sale and marketing of drugs, but if that ever happens I doubt it will be good news for pharmacists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacist-prescribing-debate-continued/591173.md?page=2)