Final answer:
False. Medical assistants do not have the authority to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment independently.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. In the United States, medical assistants do not have the authority to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment. They work under the supervision of licensed healthcare professionals, such as physicians or nurse practitioners, who are responsible for making diagnoses and prescribing treatments.
The scope of practice for medical assistants varies from state to state, but generally, they perform administrative and clinical tasks to support healthcare providers.
For instance, a medical assistant may take a patient's vital signs, collect medical history, assist during medical procedures, and perform routine laboratory tests. They play a vital role in the healthcare team, but they do not have the qualifications or legal authority to diagnose or prescribe medications independently.