True or False: You are permitted to administer medication without a doctor's order.

The correct answer, which indicates that you cannot administer medication without a doctor's order, reflects the fundamental principle of medication administration in healthcare. This principle is based on the requirement for proper medical oversight, which ensures that any medication given is appropriate for the patient's condition, dosage, and specific needs.

Administering medication without a doctor's approval could lead to serious health risks, including allergic reactions, medication interactions, or administering the wrong dosage. Healthcare professionals are trained to follow protocols that safeguard patient health, and a doctor's order serves as a safeguard to ensure that the medication is prescribed based on a complete assessment of the patient's medical history and current health status.

In certain situations, like emergencies or specific policies governing over-the-counter medications, some flexibility may exist, but these scenarios still generally operate within established guidelines that typically require at least some form of medical authority or protocol. Thus, the statement that one is allowed to administer medications without a doctor's order is fundamentally incorrect within standard medication administration practices.