Physician conviction for prescription related deaths: How will this affect the opioid debate?

Humair Rana, MD; Brian Braithwaite, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2016.0338

Authors

Humair Rana, MD
Brian Braithwaite, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2016.0338

Keywords:

physician conviction, opioids, prescription-related deaths

Abstract

no abstract

Author Biographies

Humair Rana, MD

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas.

Brian Braithwaite, MD

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas.

References

Drug Enforcement Agency: Doctor Convicted of Three Murders in Prescription Drug Overdose Case. Available at ht tp: / /www.dea.gov/divisions/ la/2015/ la103015.shtml. Published October 30, 2015. Accessed January 31, 2016.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the US. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/PainkillerOverdoses/index.html. Published November 2011. Accessed January 31, 2016.

Chen JH, Humphreys K, Shah NH, et al.: Distribution of Opioids by Different Types of Medicare Prescribers. JAMA Intern Med. 2015; Dec 14: e1-3.

Hoffmann DE: Treating Pain v. Reducing Drug Diversion and Abuse: Recalibrating the Balance in our Drug Control Laws and Policies. Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy. 2008; 1(2): 231-310.

Barnes MC, Sklaver SL: Active Verification and Vigilance: A Method to Avoid Civil and Criminal Liability when Prescribing Controlled Substances. DePaul Journal of Healthcare Law. 2013; 15(2): 93-145.

Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing: Available at http://www.supportprop.org/. Accessed January 31, 2016.

Drug Enforcement Administration: Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Hydrocodone Combination Products from Schedule III to Schedule II. Available at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2014/fr0822.htm. Accessed January 31, 2016.

Hoffman DE, Tarzian AJ: Achieving the Right Balance in Oversight of Physician Opioid Prescribing for Pain: The Role of State Medical Boards. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 2003; 31(1): 21-40.