Prosecution of Doctors over Patient Drug Overdose
The use of opioids within the healthcare setting elicits polarizing opinions in medicine. On the one hand, they offer relief to patients suffering from severe pain, therefore, improving the quality of care. Conversely, there has been increased non-medical use of opioids, with some doctor’s coming under heavy scrutiny for their involvement in the sale and distribution of prescription drugs. Arguably, medical practitioners have an underlying responsibility to contain drug use and dependency. I, therefore, argue that doctors should be prosecuted for professional misconduct if they; engage in the sale and distribution of opioids, negligently prescribe opioids, and fail to educate the patients on potential side effects of the drug.
Notably, doctors have a mandate to ensure the safe use of opioids as well as limiting cases of substance use disorders. Dineen & Dubois (2016) note that a small percentage of the population is vulnerable to developing opioid use disorders from opioid-based medication. Regrettably, a few doctors pry on this dependency by providing diverted prescription opioids. To this end, doctors and other medical practitioners involved in the illegal distribution and sale of opioids should be held accountable under the precepts of the law.
In other instances, there are cases of negligence where the physician inappropriately prescribes drugs leading to adverse effects on the patients’ health. In the last two decades, there has been an uptick in Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) with underlying psychiatric co-morbidities and overdose risks (Dineen&Dubois, 2016). Physicians are mandated with monitoring patients and subsequently dispensing medication. Failure of a doctor to follow up on his or her patient could lead to death, and as such, he or she must be held responsible.
Moreover, doctors have a responsibility to ensure that patients understand the risks involved with using opioids. Nedelman (2017) notes that before administering or renewing opioids, physicians must reevaluate a patient’s health status. Additionally, they should also advise patients on alternative treatment options. Failing to examine a patient before administering opioids or informing them on alternative options is considered malpractice.
Although opioids play a crucial role in promoting wellness, the underlying health adversities cannot be overlooked. Fitful practices from physicians have led to numerous deaths, not mentioning the social and economic ramifications due to opioid addictions. To this end, erratic physicians must be prosecuted for unethical behavior.