[snagglegaggle]

Yes, yes, I know. But so many drugs requiring a prescription in the US is a market distortion similar to the high cost of bringing drugs to market. It reduces the availability of life saving medicines to people while attempting to minimize other dangers that are likely overstated. Frankly it seems like something doctors lobbied for to ensure a steady stream of office visits.

[bduerst]

Doubtful. Doctors are incentivized to not have to write prescriptions, because it legally shifts the liability (and malpractice claims) to them.

[snagglegaggle]

Whether they prescribe it or not is irrelevant, you still need to pay to ask them. Doctors are risk averse for that reason, among others, and most people I know loathe going to them because they never actually try to treat the problem.