Patients at Risk

Latest Episodes:

Debunking Cochrane's 'Nurses Can Replace Hospital Physicians' Study Jul 26, 2026

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A 2026 Cochrane review claims "little to no difference between nurse‐physician substitution and physician‐led care" in a hospital setting.

Phil Shaffer, MD reviews all 82 studies to prove the major fallacy: NO study included in the analysis involved true substitution of nurses for physicians to perform physician-level care.

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013616.pub2/full

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Shocking urgent care study: 64% wrong diagnosis May 16, 2026

Show notes

Most urgent cares are staffed by NPs/PAs, often without physician supervision - can you trust them with your life?
Dr. John Lafferty shares details from a study showing that of 300 referrals from urgent cares to the ER, 55% were unnecessary and 64% resulted in a 'discordant' (different) diagnosis.
"Our data found that 55% of patients referred to EDs from UCCs did not
require ED-specific care or resources and 64% carried a discordant diagnosis between UC and ED diagnosis. We suggest quality remedies, such as educational sessions and engagement with telemedicine sub-specialists as well as a coordinated formalized system for UCC to ED referrals."
Poyorena C, Patel S, Keim A, et al. Evaluating urgent care center referrals to the emergency department. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. 2022;3(6):e12838. Published 2022 Dec 7. doi:10.1002/emp2.12838

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

NP advocates testify in Florida for unsupervised practice rights in psychiatry Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

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 to patients.

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

South Carolina Medical Association fights to ensure patient access to physician-led care Jan 18, 2026

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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:

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PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

The 'P-word': Taking the No Provider Pledge Dec 26, 2025

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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

Rural Health Transformation Funding being used to justify NP/PA scope expansion - and PPP response to FTC letter of support Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

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 position in light of newer data.

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Powerful patient testimony to Senate committee about importance of physician-led care Oct 18, 2025

Show notes

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

Drs. Bernard and Shaffer testify before the South Carolina Legislature on scope of practice Sep 13, 2025

Show notes

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 days of testimony before the South Carolina legislature on these bills. Dr. Phil Schaffer and I were invited by the South Carolina Medical Association and we were asked specifically to focus on data - specifically, the evidence to support unsupervised practice.

Take a listen to our testimony and at the end you'll hear a few questions from legislators.

IF YOU'RE A SOUTH CAROLINA PHYSICIAN, please join and support the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) - they are working hard to fight for physician-led care. https://www.scmedical.org/

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

25 patients harmed and one dies after nurse permitted to perform ERCPs Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

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 2016-21, including 25 who "suffered some degree of harm". https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clym224qgdyo
As nurses and PAs continue to advocate for more privileges, could this happen in the US?

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

A daughter's heartbreak: "My father died when an NP missed his pulmonary embolus" Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

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 questions the push for independent practice for nurse practitioners. The discussion extends to issues of legislative accountability, corporate healthcare’s role in potentially compromising patient care, and the necessity for patients to advocate for themselves to ensure high-quality medical care. Angie's story highlights the broader implications of inadequate training and supervision in healthcare, especially affecting rural communities.

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

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