Jerry McCall is Dr. Williams' office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and an LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in 30 minutes. He says that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time.

Please make sure to support your position when addressing these questions: What should Jerry do? Does his medical training qualify him to issue the refill order? Would it make a difference if it was a medication that the patient critically needed on a daily basis? Is Jerry protected from a lawsuit under the doctrine ofrespondeat superiorif the patient has an adverse reaction while flying? What would your advice be to Jerry?