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[wiccagirl24]

Does anyone know if a medical examiner (Ducky) would be able to write prescriptions? He is an MD, but he doesn't treat live people, so is he licensed?

Thanks

Comments

[anonymous]

Even though he doesn't treat live patients, he is still an MD and must be licenced. So to answer your question- I yes he would be allowed to write prescriptions

[em_kellesvig]

Most MEs aren't MDs and so aren't licensed physicians. Ducky *is* an licenced MD but may not have a DEA licence to prescribe as he doesn't have an active practise, being a forensic pathologist for the government. The DEA would have to have a good reason to grant him a valid prescriber number and since he doesn't interact with living patients, I'd say the odds are no, he can't write prescriptions.

[wiccagirl24]

Thanks! Just a little plot point I was tryint to work out. I hate posting things and then having people go no! That;s not realistic.

[em_kellesvig]

I'm not saying that he *doesn't* have one. But according to my nurse-prescriber, the DEA assigns valid numbers on a case-by-case basis. Just because you have a licence to practise medicine (granted by the State), doesn't mean that you have a DEA number (i.e. midwives and MEs). But you don't have to be an MD to have a DEA number either (nurse-prescribers). So, if Ducky could prove "good cause" to have a number, they would give him one. The question is, why would he need one? He's an acting ME with an MD and a PhD, not a physician with an active practice. This might be a question for the NCIS-CBS list. It would be interesting to know the "official" answer.

[wiccagirl24]

What a good idea! Thanks.

[anonymous]

Hi,
Hope this might help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_examiner#United_States