Issues Regarding the Expanding of Prescription Rights - Assignment Example

Issues Regarding Expanding of Prescription Rights Issues Regarding Expanding of Prescription Rights Expanding of prescription rights to non-medical practitioners may be detrimental to the practice of medicine. This is because different people may have different opinions on what someone might be suffering from, without having proper medical diagnosis. Psychologists must have the ability to practice in their field while getting instructions from medical doctors. Expansion of their prescription rights may be inappropriate with regard to a psychologist’s level of competency when it comes to prescribing medicinal drugs.

One might think that by saying this, the psychologist’s profession is undermined. This is not the case. They play a vital role in the medical field, but the training and education a psychologist receives may not be adequate for them to deal with the medical consequences of prescribing drugs (Hergenhahn, 2008). According to the American Medical Association, expanding these rights might jeopardize the safety of patients. By expanding these rights, many believe that patients may be avoiding long hurdles.

These hurdles could include having to wait for months for mental health services while others might want their children to get treatment that may not be immediately available. Some agencies, for example, The National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers, are in full support of the move to expand these rights. They claim that many people may be saved through such a move. Most drugs used over a long time may have long-term side effects. Those prescribing these drugs must have a medical background (Lakhan, 2007).

Psychologists should, therefore, have medical experience before being allowed to prescribe medication to anyone.ReferencesHergenhahn, B. R. (2008). An introduction to the history of psychology. New York: Macmillan Publishers.Lakhan, S. E. (2007). Prescribing privileges for psychologists: A public service or hazard? Online Journal Health Allied Sciences, 6(1), 1. Retrieved from http://www.ojhas.org/issue21/2007-1-1.htm