Is It Proper for Psychologists to Discuss Medications With Clients?

Situations are analyzed in which psychologists might be asked for information about the efficacy or side effects of pharmacotherapy. The ethics and legality of providing information about physician-prescribed treatments by members of the health care delivery system who are not physicians are considered. Those articles in the psychologist's ethical code bearing on the issue are also discussed. Relevant court cases and statutes in the professions of nursing and pharmacy are examined. For these professions, the findings in relevant cases, coupled with the manner in which recent legislation has been written, suggest that nonphysician members of the health care delivery system can discuss treatments, including medications, prescribed by physicians. The question of a duty of psychologists to discuss medications in the context of obtaining informed consent is raised.