Final answer:
Prescribers can receive prescription drug samples for patients, subject to regulatory oversight by the FDA to ensure drug safety and efficacy. Different patient populations may have varying expectations around receiving medications, such as antibiotics. Psychologists generally cannot prescribe medication unless specially trained and authorized in certain states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prescribers may receive prescription drug samples when requested, as this can be part of a pharmaceutical company's marketing strategy. However, it is important to note that such practices are subject to strict regulations to ensure patient safety. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a key role in overseeing the distribution of medication samples to ensure they are both safe and effective.
The FDA also aims to protect patients from the potential harm of unregulated drugs. However, there are discrepancies in expectations and knowledge among different patient groups, as indicated in the provided study regarding parental expectations for antibiotic prescriptions. Moreover, psychologists, in most states, cannot prescribe medications as this is typically out of their scope of practice, with some exceptions like in Louisiana and New Mexico where they can prescribe after receiving special training.