Under what condition can a delegate perform acts requiring medical judgment?

• A. If they are being supervised by a physician at all times
• B. If they are a licensed practical nurse
• C. If they are a medical student under supervision
• D. If the delegate holds a license that allows for medical judgment (PA)

Answer: (D)

Medical acts that require medical judgment must be performed by someone who is legally authorized to exercise that judgment through a professional license. A physician assistant has licensure that explicitly permits medical judgment within a physician-supervised practice, so they can carry out those acts. Therefore, the necessary condition is holding a license that allows medical judgment (such as PA licensure).

Supervision alone doesn’t grant medical-judgment authority to someone who isn’t licensed for that role, and a licensed practical nurse or a medical student under supervision does not have the independent license to make medical judgments.