Which statement best describes delegation by physicians?

Which statement best describes delegation by physicians?

• A. Physicians may delegate any task to any staff with physician approval
• B. Physicians may delegate only tasks that require medical judgment
• C. Physicians may delegate medical acts to trained individuals; tasks requiring medical judgment cannot be delegated unless the delegate has a license enabling medical judgment (PA)
• D. Physicians may delegate administrative tasks only

Answer: (C)

Delegation in medical practice means the physician can assign certain clinical tasks to trained staff, as long as those tasks are within the staff member’s scope and the physician provides appropriate supervision. The key distinction is between medical acts and medical judgment: acts that require medical judgment stay with the licensed physician or licensed professionals authorized to exercise that judgment. If the task requires medical judgment, the person performing it must hold a license that authorizes such judgment—such as a physician assistant. Hence, the best description is that physicians may delegate medical acts to trained individuals; tasks requiring medical judgment cannot be delegated unless the delegate has a license enabling medical judgment (PA). The other options are too broad or too limiting: delegating any task with physician approval ignores scope-of-practice limits; delegating only tasks requiring medical judgment misses that many routine clinical acts can be delegated; and administrative tasks only excludes legitimate clinical delegation under supervision.

Delegation in medical practice means the physician can assign certain clinical tasks to trained staff, as long as those tasks are within the staff member’s scope and the physician provides appropriate supervision. The key distinction is between medical acts and medical judgment: acts that require medical judgment stay with the licensed physician or licensed professionals authorized to exercise that judgment. If the task requires medical judgment, the person performing it must hold a license that authorizes such judgment—such as a physician assistant. Hence, the best description is that physicians may delegate medical acts to trained individuals; tasks requiring medical judgment cannot be delegated unless the delegate has a license enabling medical judgment (PA). The other options are too broad or too limiting: delegating any task with physician approval ignores scope-of-practice limits; delegating only tasks requiring medical judgment misses that many routine clinical acts can be delegated; and administrative tasks only excludes legitimate clinical delegation under supervision.