Legislated profession

[prabh]

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Hi Everyone!

I am a pre-health student, still unsure of where to go. I was doing some research on optometry and I just found out that optometry is a legislated profession. Why is this? Also are all medical professions legislated by each state or just optometry? Thank you in advance for your input!! 🙂

-Prabh

 

[physicslover]

what exactly does legislated profession mean?

 

[optsuker]

It means the scope of our practice (what we can do) is legislated primarily by a state board and actual state laws that define what we can and can't do (with a little federal oversight as well).

It's the reason some OD's can prescribe an oral medication/perform a minor surgical procedure in one state, but not in another. All 50 states are slightly different and the rules can change with each session of state legislature.

A MD can basically perform any procedure, anywhere in the US; not so for OD's, PA's, NP's, etc.

What it means is that where you choose to practice makes a bigger difference and there is more uncertainty for what you may be able to do in the future.

 

[thiaeyemd]

Optometry is trying to get more rights. They have been lobbying to do different procedures etc.. My neighbor was an old optom and they were actually originally jewelers who converted their profression into a degree. Now they want to do more. Legislature in each states gives them rights but by lobbying and donating to politicians they have tried to get to do more..

 

[poliomyelitis]

do yall think optometrist will be able to perform surgical procedures in 20 years??? (i know its a long shot)

 

[Jay12]

do yall think optometrist will be able to perform surgical procedures in 20 years??? (i know its a long shot)

I don't know how beneficial it would be for our profession to do such a thing. I didn't get into this profession to do surgery....that it up to my colleagues, the ophthalmologist. I feel more comfortable in the primary care realm, and when a situation arises where I feel the case would be better handled by a surgeon, I would feel more than comfortable sending a referral to a retina or corneal specialist.

I think our profession has bigger goals to accomplish (i.e. insurance) than to worry about doing surgical procedures....if you want to perform surgery, become an MD!