SC: It's OK to be a Reckless Pill-Mill.

[Shadow Wolf]

Supreme Court sides with doctors challenging their convictions in opioids 'pill mill' case - CNNPolitics

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of two doctors who were convicted of prescribing dangerous opioids without valid medical justification in violation of federal law.
Lawyers for the doctors appealed their convictions, arguing that a jury should have been able to consider whether they reasonably believed that they were acting within professional boundaries. The government had argued such a standard was not necessary.
...
Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the majority, said that for the prosecution of the doctors to be successful, the government "must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly or intentionally acted in an unauthorized manner."
The so-called "pill mill" case -- coming amid a nationwide opioid crisis -- pits a doctor's ability to dispense controlled substances for pain management against the government's push to prosecute doctors who are prescribing dangerous drugs in the absence of a medical justification.

My blood is boiling over this because the opioid crisis has been partly fueled by doctors recklessly prescribing highly addictive substances for things there are no studies or justifications to support their usage. Things physical therapy would have been better for, they prescribed opioids for long-term pain control. Where CBT and traditional OTC meds would have worked better, doctors kept prescribing more and more of these drugs even as the tolerance level in their patients rose.
This Supreme Court is dangerous and has got to go.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Supreme Court sides with doctors challenging their convictions in opioids 'pill mill' case - CNNPolitics

My blood is boiling over this because the opioid crisis has been partly fueled by doctors recklessly prescribing highly addictive substances for things there are no studies or justifications to support their usage. Things physical therapy would have been better for, they prescribed opioids for long-term pain control. Where CBT and traditional OTC meds would have worked better, doctors kept prescribing more and more of these drugs even as the tolerance level in their patients rose.
This Supreme Court is dangerous and has got to go.

Eh. You got your weed

Let them have their fun.

 

[Viker]

This Supreme Court is dangerous and has got to go.

The Supreme Court's already gone. What we have now is more like court jesters.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Eh. You got your weed

Let them have their fun.

Weed? You think cannabis is anything like opioids?
And what fun? People get addicted to these pills, they develop a tolerance, they need more, they hurt more, they need more, they hurt more, and yes they actually do hurt more and not just the cycle of tolerance and addiction. And because these are legal drugs, prescribed from a doctor, people are far more trusting of them and not realizing there are some very serious and nasty side effects, just like those hard nasty street drugs they've always been told to avoid. And a lot of them end up dead. And the withdrawal from addiction is also real and very nasty. I've seen it. It is terrible enough just to watch it.

 

[Sand Dancer]

The Supreme Court's already gone. What we have now is more like court jesters.

They need new uniforms then.

 

[Viker]

They need new uniforms then.

 

[Callisto]

The Supreme Court's already gone. What we have now is more like court jesters.

Can someone find a giant hook and pull these clowns off the stage? Please?

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Republicans and party of middle ground fallacy (many democrats) don't want to cover minimum healthcare costs, let alone holistic ones which bring interdisciplinary healthcare to the fore. Cheaper and more money to be made slapping a bandaid that turns into a dependency.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Eh. You got your weed

Let them have their fun.

Their "fun" is killing thousands. Remember how much precious you think life is?

 

[Heyo]

Supreme Court sides with doctors challenging their convictions in opioids 'pill mill' case - CNNPolitics

My blood is boiling over this because the opioid crisis has been partly fueled by doctors recklessly prescribing highly addictive substances for things there are no studies or justifications to support their usage. Things physical therapy would have been better for, they prescribed opioids for long-term pain control. Where CBT and traditional OTC meds would have worked better, doctors kept prescribing more and more of these drugs even as the tolerance level in their patients rose.
This Supreme Court is dangerous and has got to go.

I see a lot of drug dealers wanting their convictions overturned and that the government "must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly or intentionally acted in an unauthorized manner."

 

[Debater Slayer]

Not sure whether I should be happy or sad that I knew the split would be 6-3 before even clicking the article.

The court ruling for the doctors was unanimous, but the justices differed 6-3 on the legal rationale.

When you can so easily predict the justices' opinions based on their political affiliation, it's probably a sign that partisanship and ideological agenda are taking precedence over the law and interests of citizens.

 

[The Hammer]

Eh. You got your weed

Let them have their fun.

Terrible analogy.

"Compared to marijuana, opioids are much riskier, much more dangerous,” Teater told Healthline. “Opioids cause more problems than they're worth.” Opioids prescribed for pain bring fast relief and an accompanying sense of calm."

Opioid, Marijuana Dangers

 

[Revoltingest]

I read the linked article.
The decision strikes me as reasonable.
I've discussed pain management with a couple docs I know, &
it's a crucial service. But it has risks. If those risks threatened
prison time for the doctor, pain management would suffer.

But we need to overhaul SCOTUS.
- Add members...say an additional 6.
- Give it a code of ethics. Include "no lying during confirmation".

 

[Debater Slayer]

But we need to overhaul SCOTUS.
- Add members...say an additional 6.
- Give it a code of ethics. Include "no lying during confirmation".

I was thinking today that perhaps it's for the best that the fundamental flaws in the current SCOTUS structure have been exposed. They would have been sooner or later. At least now it's clear what needs to be fixed, as hard as that may be.

 

[Revoltingest]

I was thinking today that perhaps it's for the best that the fundamental flaws in the current SCOTUS structure have been exposed. They would have been sooner or later. At least now it's clear what needs to be fixed, as hard as that may be.

We all learn by doing.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I read the linked article.
The decision strikes me as reasonable.
I've discussed pain management with a couple docs I know, &
it's a crucial service. But it has risks. If those risks threatened
prison time for the doctor, pain management would suffer.

But we need to overhaul SCOTUS.
- Add members...say an additional 6.
- Give it a code of ethics. Include "no lying during confirmation".

Pain management shouldn't be using such medications. They're derived from opium. It's never been a good idea, especially due to the lack of evidence to support it's use (I've talked to a lot of providers about this one myself) and the known potential for addiction and abuse. This is why good doctors are slow and hesitant to prescribe such things (this includes other meds like Xanax).
Continually drugging a patient with an addictive substance over an extended period to the point tolerance happens and giving a patient even more? And keep on giving then more and stronger doses of something the patient has developed a tolerance to and has an addiction?
It's not like this something new or mysterious. Doctor's turning patients into addicts despite the obvious warnings and dangers should not be excused.
But I agree on tweaking the SC. Only I favor giving them the proletariat treatment, calling it downsizing, and can the ones with the lowest seniority.

 

[sun rise]

When you can so easily predict the justices' opinions based on their political affiliation, it's probably a sign that partisanship and ideological agenda are taking precedence over the law and interests of citizens.

Yes. And of course they're very good at wrapping their politics in a pile of justifications.

Give it a code of ethics. Include "no lying during confirmation".

Did they take an oath before testifying? What Are the Penalties for Lying to Congress? - FindLaw says it's a crime. LOCK THEM UP.

 

[Revoltingest]

Pain management shouldn't be using such medications. They're derived from opium. It's never been a good idea, especially due to the lack of evidence to support it's use (I've talked to a lot of providers about this one myself) and the known potential for addiction and abuse. This is why good doctors are slow and hesitant to prescribe such things (this includes other meds like Xanax).
Continually drugging a patient with an addictive substance over an extended period to the point tolerance happens and giving a patient even more? And keep on giving then more and stronger doses of something the patient has developed a tolerance to and has an addiction?
It's not like this something new or mysterious. Doctor's turning patients into addicts despite the obvious warnings and dangers should not be excused.
But I agree on tweaking the SC. Only I favor giving them the proletariat treatment, calling it downsizing, and can the ones with the lowest seniority.

Obviously the doc has a duty to do what is reasonable
& best. Failure shouldn't necessarily be criminal.

 

[Revoltingest]

Yes. And of course they're very good at wrapping their politics in a pile of justifications.



Did they take an oath before testifying? What Are the Penalties for Lying to Congress? - FindLaw says it's a crime. LOCK THEM UP.

At least investigate them for this likely crime.
But a code of ethics could expedite the process.

 

[fantome profane]

At least investigate them for this likely crime.
But a code of ethics could expedite the process.

They were investigated. And convicted.