The problem for the layperson or politician trying to understand the complex task of diagnosing, investigating and appropriately treating a urinary tract infection is that the outcome in their mind is simple — antibiotics or no antibiotics.

Perhaps that’s why pharmacists in Queensland are to be allowed to write antibiotic scripts for UTI under a state government-funded trial.

But coming to this apparently simple binary outcome of antibiotic or not is like making the decision to hit a big red ‘fire the missiles’ button or not.

Yes, at the end of the day it may be a ‘yes or no’ outcome, but this decision placed in the wrong hands can lead to people getting hurt.