[seanstickle]

Point of clarification: physician assistants are qualified to diagnose, treat, and recommend courses of action related to health care.

Per the American Academy of Physician Assistants: "PAs perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret lab tests, perform procedures, assist in surgery, provide patient education and counseling and make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes. All 50 states and the District of Columbia allow PAs to practice medicine and prescribe medications."

http://www.aapa.org/the_pa_profession/what_is_a_pa.aspx

Disclaimer: I work for the Physician Assistant Education Association.

[eldavido]

Interesting. This seems like a step in the right direction. What can't PAs do, that MDs can?

[cwal37]

Just FYI nurse practitioners (NPs) can also diagnose/prescribe/refer. I happen to know this because my mom's finishing up school to become one. When she's finished, she'll get a huge pay bump, and have quite a few options open to her. A clinic at Walgreens, for example, is often staffed by a nurse practitioner. Cheaper than a doctor, but with their general prescriptive abilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_practitioner