When we think of potentially vulnerable patients, it just doesn't get riskier than those with mental health conditions, especially children. Yet, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are seeking the right to care for patients 'across the lifespan'--including those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addiction--without physician oversight. Listen in on testimony in Florida with commentary on why their argument of promoting 'access' without ensuring patient safety may be dangerous t...
Feb 17, 2026•36 min•Season 1Ep. 121
South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) immediate past president Mayes DuBose, MD and Vice President of Advocacy and Policy Counsel Holly Pisarik discuss efforts that the association has led in fighting bills that would allow unsupervised practice rights to NPs and PAs after just 2,000 hours of clinical hour experience - and let PAs switch specialties after just 1,000 hours. https://www.scmedical.org/ Get the books: Patients at Risk https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M9YJQR3/ Imposter Doctors: https...
Jan 18, 2026•35 min•Season 1Ep. 120
Dr. Robert McLean, former President of the American College of Physicians discusses the negative impact of the word provider, and encourages all physicians to take the 'No Provider Pledge.' PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Dec 26, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 119
Dr. Phil Shaffer and I are back in SC to testify yet again against a bill that would permit unsupervised NP and PA practice after 2,000 hours of experience. In this episode, I share subcommittee chair Senator Tom Davis's perspectives that SC will lose funding from the Rural Health Transformation project without scope expansion. You'll also hear a letter of support from the FTC Office of Policy Planning supporting scope expansion, and PPP's response explaining why the FTC should reconsider it's p...
Nov 12, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 118
7 year old Betty Wattenbarger died hours after being evaluated by a pediatric nurse practitioner at a pediatric urgent care in Texas. Her father testifies to the Texas Legislature about his experience seeking accountability from the Board of Nursing and why he believes physician-led care matters for patient safety. Patients at risk video interview with Jeremy Wattenbarger Part 1 - https://youtu.be/Su43DKxNZoY Part 2- https://youtu.be/pNSWr1GSBnU PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org...
Oct 18, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 117
The South Carolina Legislature has introduced bills that would allow unsupervised practice to nurse practitioners and physician assistants after 2000 hours of experience, as well as a bill that would expand pharmacist privileges. On the flip side, there's also a bill that would enhance team-based care, ensuring that physicians remain in the lead of medical care and strengthening requirements and enforcement of physician oversight. Today, you'll hear just a small part of the very, very long two d...
Sep 13, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 116
One patient died and 25 others were found to have been harmed when a nurse was permitted to perform complex medical procedures in the UK. Gastroenterologist Dr. Kaveh Hoda joins me to discuss the necessary training to perform an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a procedure most commonly used to remove gallstones. From the BBC article: 68 patients underwent ERCPs with a 'single consultant nurse', and a review found that 58 received "substandard" care from the service between...
Aug 18, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 115
In this episode of 'Patients at Risk,' Angie Pereira shares the heartbreaking story of losing her father due to a misdiagnosed pulmonary embolism by a nurse practitioner in an after-hours clinic. Despite her father's presenting symptoms of shortness of breath and leg pain, strong family history of blood clots, and normal lung exam, the nurse practitioner diagnosed him with pneumonia, leading to his untimely death the next day. Angie emphasizes the need for proper physician oversight and question...
Jul 14, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 114
Rebekah Bernard discusses the legislative trends and impacts of allowing non-physician practitioners (NPs and PAs) to practice medicine unsupervised. She highlights the extensive training and hours required for physicians compared to the significantly less training for NPs and PAs. Bernard explains how legislative changes have allowed NPs and PAs to practice independently in many states, often with less experience and training compared to physicians. She delves into the history of physician shor...
Jun 27, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 113
Dr. Denise Weiss always wanted to be a physician, but circumstances led her into nursing. She earned an associate's degree as a registered nurse, and then became a family nurse practitioner. After several years of practice, she realized that her education had not prepared her for independent practice, and she decided to return to school to become a physician. Now a practicing anesthesiologist, Dr. Weiss explains the differences between nursing and medical education, and why physician-led care ma...
Jun 18, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 112
A patient shares her story of receiving the wrong type of filler into her face by a registered nurse, leading to severe and permanent nerve damage. Francesca explains that the RN, who was in NP school at the time, was not being supervised, and worked in a for-profit clinic owned by a non-physician. While some may argue, "Let the Buyer Beware," Francesca believes that patients are not be in the position to fully understand the qualifications of clinicians being permitted to perform medical proced...
May 27, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 111
In February 2025, the AAPA published a press release entitled: 'AAPA Releases Survey Showing Physician Support for Removing Barriers to PA Practice.' According to AAPA President Jason Prevelige (DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA), the survey proved that, “Physicians recognize the need for change. It’s time to modernize these laws so healthcare teams can focus on what matters most, patient care.” But what did this survey REALLY show? Chandani Patel DeZure, MD, joins me to unpack the details. Links: https:/...
Apr 22, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 110
Emergency physician Dr. Deborah Fletcher is an author of the first study to evaluate physician presence in Emergency Departments across the country. She discusses the findings, including that 7.4% of all EDs have NO physician on-site, and of those, 3% have no ability for the NP/PA staffing the ED to discuss patient care with a physician. Emergency physician Dr. Mercy Hylton discusses the dangers of this practice, including concerns from nurse researchers regarding variability and lack of standar...
Mar 31, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Pulmonologist / Intensivist Gary Dudek, MD, joins me to discuss the CDC's call for comments regarding allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to become National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 'B Readers'. B-Readers are highly trained radiologists (medical school graduates with at least five years of residency as well as additional training in this particular type of x-ray) that read and interpret annual screening chest x-rays done on coal, silica, and asbestos...
Feb 24, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD FACP, an internal medicine physician, author, patient advocate, and ally to colleagues discusses how physicians can fight for patients. Trust in physicians has plummeted in the last few years (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821693), making it more and more difficult for doctors to do their jobs, and potentially leading to a negative impact on patient care. While many point to handling of the COVID pandemic as the cause of growing distrust, ...
Feb 06, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 107
On September 17, 2024, the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee held an interim hearing on scope of practice expansion for nurse practitioners and other clinicians. In this third episode related to that hearing, Texas Medical Association (TMA) president Ray Callas MD discusses the importance of physician oversight for nonphysician practitioners and answers questions from legislators. Importantly, Dr. Callas notes that in the past, TMA was asked by legislators to 'come to the table' t...
Jan 16, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 106
In the last episode, you heard some of my testimony at the Texas Interim Legislature hearing on Scope of Practice. Today you're going to hear from a nurse practitioner, Holly Jeffries, who is practicing in rural Texas. Her testimony was particularly impactful and really quite persuasive to legislators. I think it's important to understand the NP point of view and also learn the concerns of legislators by listening to their line of questioning. Referenced in the podcast: Facts about NP primary ca...
Dec 08, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 105
On September 17, 2024, the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee held an interim hearing on scope of practice expansion for nurse practitioners and other clinicians. The Texas Medical Association (TMA) invited Rebekah Bernard, MD to testify regarding the economic impact of NP independence. In part 1 of this series, we hear the NP expert witness, economist Alicia Plemons, followed by Dr. Bernard's testimony, along with questioning from the committee. Learn more! https://www.amazon.com/...
Nov 17, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Christopher Garofolo, MD, unpacks the many errors shared by a more seasoned NP to a brand new NP seeking advice on a Facebook post. Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Imposter-Doctors-Patients-at-Risk/dp/1627344438/ PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Oct 24, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 103
On the last podcast, I interviewed Dr. Anu Shokla who shared her story of her newborn baby being treated for an emergency rapid response by a nurse practitioner who had just rotated with her on the inpatient adult hematology oncology service. After hearing that podcast, Dr. Carol Nelson reached out to share a story of the alternate version: her newborn granddaughter was saved because of the outstanding care from well-trained physicians and non-physicians working together in a physician-led care ...
Sep 16, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Primary care physician Anu Shukla shares a personal story about the dangers that patients face when physicians are replaced with nonphysician practitioners. Dr. Shukla's comments on this podcast reflect her views and opinions. She does not speak for or represent her employer. Physiciansforpatientprotection.org patientsatrisk.com PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Aug 20, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 101
In the first of a series 'The Nurse Will See You Now,' Bloomberg reporters investigate concerns about nurse practitioner education. The Miseducation of America’s Nurse Practitioners They don’t merely support doctors—NPs increasingly treat patients independently, including in specialty practices and emergency rooms. When they aren’t well trained, the results can be tragic. By Caleb Melby , Polly Mosendz , and Noah Buhayar https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-07-24/is-the-nurse-practitione...
Jul 30, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 100
There are an estimated 500-750 clinics across the U.S. providing infusions of Ketamine for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. This is big business, estimated to bring in $3.1 billion per year and projected to rise to 6.9 billion by 2030. But is Ketamine safe and effective? Psychiatrist Kristina Kise, MD discusses the use of ketamine infusions in psychiatry, including the potential dangers to patients when physicians are not directly involved in drug oversight. PhysiciansForPatient...
Jul 18, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 99
Psychiatrists are increasingly being replaced by non-physician practitioners - psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) and physician assistants (PAs). This webinar explains the difference between a psychiatrist and a PMHNP and reviews the evidence regarding unsupervised care of patients with mental illness by non-physicians. Link to webinar video: https://youtu.be/djDos6xbRos Contact me: PatientsAtRisk.com PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
May 27, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Over the last decade, as physicians have increasingly turned to employed practice to cope with declining reimbursement and increased administrative requirements, our role in advocacy has diminished. Doctors are afraid to speak out because we fear being fired and losing our livelihoods. But without physician advocacy, corporate interests, academic centers, and government agencies are increasingly making decisions contrary to the best interests of patients, including replacing physicians with nonp...
May 13, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 97
Arthur Smolensky, MD describes his experience creating a Small Democratic Group (SDG) to take over emergency department staffing from corporate contract management groups. https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-smolensky-719806/ PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Apr 29, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 96
In today's episode, Teresa Camp-Rogers, MD, MS analyzes a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the journal of the American College of Physicians, entitled Inappropriate Prescribing to Older Patients by Nurse Practitioners and Primary Care Physicians The article, which seems to call for an expansion of unsupervised practice for NPs, contends that NPs and physicians showed no differences in inappropriate prescribing to seniors based on Beers criteria, however, notes that NPs were ov...
Apr 15, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Three years ago, we aired a podcast criticizing Doctors' Day posts from hospitals and healthcare organizations that included non-physicians and referred to physicians as 'providers.' Fast-forward to today, and some organizations (but not all!) seem to have gotten the message. Happy Doctors' Day to all physicians - thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to patient care! PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Apr 01, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 94
John Canion is an experienced nurse practitioner working within nursing for years to improve NP education. Frustrated with the lack of positive change from NP leadership, he penned the "2023 Report on Nurse Practitioner Education and the Need for Change," which outlines the current state of NP education and proposes solutions that harken back to the original days of NP training. Canion suggests: - At least 2 years of RN experience before starting NP school - Increased standards for entry, includ...
Mar 18, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 93
John Canion is an experienced nurse practitioner working within nursing for years to improve NP education. Frustrated with the lack of positive change from NP leadership, he penned the "2023 Report on Nurse Practitioner Education and the Need for Change," which outlines the current state of NP education and proposes solutions that harken back to the original days of NP training. Canion suggests: - At least 2 years of RN experience before starting NP school - Increased standards for entry, includ...
Mar 04, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 92
