Abstract
In the absence of widespread publicly sponsored needle exchange programs, the proposal has been made that physicians prescribe syringes and needles to intravenous (IV) drug users in order to reduce the risk of infection from HIV and other diseases that could result from needle sharing. One question is whether physicians who engage in this behavior, as well as pharmacists who fill the prescriptions, face a significant threat of malpractice liability if the IV drug user or someone else, perhaps an innocent bystander, is harmed as a result of the prescribed equipment. No such cases have been reported, per- haps because the practice is not yet frequent. For the reasons explained in the analysis that follows, it is unlikely that any malpractice suits would be brought successfully in the future.
Keywords
Needle Exchange Program
Publication Date
1997
Document Type
Article
Place of Original Publication
Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine
Publication Information
11 Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine 73 (2001)
Repository Citation
Mehlman, Maxwell J., "Liability for Prescribing Intravenous Injection Equipment to IV Drug Users" (1997). Faculty Publications. 546.
https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/faculty_publications/546
