Dr. What?

There are doctors and there are doctors. Each sort is different. A doctor of philosophy for example, does not do surgeries  as your medical doctor possibly might. A doctor of letters or one of science or engineering is yet another kind of doctor. While all the doctors, have lengthy periods of education years beyond the average "good" ones, what their specialties are, depend upon their area of expertise and interest. We understand the label, doctor, because the individual granted such an honour, has spent a lot of time in his/her field and learning  how to do it. In short, these people deserve their titles and our respect. Recently, I heard a discussion about allowing pharmacists to administer tests of their customers and to prescribe certain medications for them: some as antibiotics, blood pressure medicine and certain sexually related therapies. According to the reports, those in rather remote areas where MDs are in short supply, greatly appreciated that they could receive medications on the advice of a pharmacist. They reported that pharmacists had very good follow-up routines and listened to their customers with time and interest. Along with the pharmacists during this discussion, medical doctors were present, and during the talk, the word "diagnosis" was introduced. One of the doctors was concerned about this term, and remarked that pharmacists did in fact supply care, but that it did not arise out of, or allow for, true diagnoses. He said that diagnosis was the work of the medical doctor. I found the discussion, fodder for further consideration. It is certainly true that pharmacists do follow up with calls about some medications and it is much appreciated. What concerns me, is that all of the medications that are said to be prescribed by pharmacists, can have serious implications on one's general health. Your medical doctor has a file on your complete medical history while a pharmacist does not, and should not. When something as serious as high blood pressure happens to a body, it isn't simply a matter of taking a pill to reduce the readings. High blood pressure could be an indication of something more complicated, and in my lay opinion, without all the information about a person's medical standing, a more serious condition might be undiscovered. Also, the use of antibiotics isn't something simple. The implications of continued use could have concerning effects. It is true, however, that when you receive a prescription from your doctor, there is almost never a follow up by his office. Most of the time, it is up to the patient to do this, or wait until another appointment is possible. For some people, these things are not easy. And thinking that you are going to have much more that a quick fifteen minutes in a medical doctor's office is a myth. Also to be considered, many pharmacists, if not most, are business persons who own their outlets. They are also professionals but they are in business. They need to make profit to stay in business, while a doctor is of the service industry controlled by tight government and professional restrictions and not necessarily in business for profit. The outcome of seeing a pharmacist as a prescriber of medicines, will be interesting.