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SCOTUS Sides With Doctors Convicted of Overprescribing Opioids

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Image copyright: AP Photo [via The Washington Times]

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The Spin

Narrative A

This is a blow to the DOJ's attempts to prosecute physicians and other illegal overprescribers as the US continues to be crippled by an opioid crisis. While the DOJ has sought to broaden the authority to charge, this decision will do the complete opposite, potentially expanding the opioid epidemic and any chances of the Federal government stopping it.

JD Supra

Narrative B

This win is significant for the defense not only of doctors innocently trying to improve the lives of their patients, but also general criminal liability surrounding negligence. It will help resist the threat of overcriminalization, and force the law to further take into account the contextual morality of prescribing opioids.

Bloomberglaw