Another Win for Patients

The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) was pleased to team with the Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS) and APA to oppose proposed legislation in Illinois that would have dangerously expanded psychologists’ scope of practice to include prescribing rights (Psychiatric News, June 13). We are also grateful to the AMA’s Scope of Practice Partnership for critical grant support used in stopping this flawed legislation.

While the Illinois legislature adjourned its spring session without enacting the prescribing bill, we stand ready with our psychiatrist members and colleague organizations if the prescribing proposal resurfaces here.

ISMS will oppose any proposed law that could threaten patient safety. Sponsors of the prescribing legislation claimed that there were adequate “safeguards” in the proposal, but ISMS believes there is no better safeguard than the detailed and extensive biomedical education physicians receive.

On behalf of ISMS’s 11,000 members, we thank IPS, APA, and the AMA for their diligence in standing with us to protect Illinois patients.

ELDON A. TRAME, M.D.PresidentIllinois State Medical Society ■