Who has the authority to initiate the ordering of an investigational drug?

The authority to initiate the ordering of an investigational drug primarily lies with a physician. This is because investigational drugs are often part of clinical trials and require a formal process for their use, including adherence to protocols that are designed and overseen by medical professionals. Physicians are trained to evaluate the appropriateness of these drugs for their patients based on clinical criteria and the specifics of ongoing research studies.

The role of a physician is critical in ensuring that the investigational drug is suitable for a patient, that informed consent has been obtained, and that the proposed treatment aligns with the study’s objectives. This process involves a deep understanding of both the drug's potential benefits and its risks, as well as how it fits within the larger context of the research being conducted.

While other healthcare professionals, such as nurse practitioners and pharmacists, play vital roles in patient care and may interact with investigational drugs, they typically do not have the primary responsibility for ordering these medications. Nurse practitioners may have prescriptive authority in some settings, but that does not equate to the authority to initiate ordering investigational drugs outside of the protocols defined by the overseeing physician. Pharmacists are crucial for the dispensing and monitoring of investigational drugs but do not initiate the ordering process. Patients, while able