Lazio TAR upholds doctors' prescribing autonomy

The Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Lazio annulled the regional decree that had obliged general practitioners and paediatricians to formalise “suggested prescriptions” issued by accredited private facilities. The court ruled that a prescription is a medical act that cannot be reduced to a bureaucratic requirement or imposed through administrative automatics.

Antonio Magi, president of the Rome Order of Physicians, welcomed the decision, stating that it protects professional autonomy, direct responsibility and patient safety. The ruling also warned that prescription automatics could slow care pathways, cause duplicated clinical assessments and generate conflicts among doctors. The Order of Physicians said it is ready to cooperate with the Lazio Region to devise effective solutions for waiting‑list management that respect constitutional, deontological and patient‑rights principles.