Defending Hippocrates: Representing Physicians in the Wake of the Opioid Epidemic

In the wake of the opioid epidemic, state and federal prosecutors are becoming aggressive in prosecuting DEA registrants who deviate from professional norms. If a physician prescribes controlled substances “for other than a legitimate medical purpose” or “outside the course of professional practice,” he or she faces up to 20 years in prison. However, through pretrial motion practice, jury instructions and expert witness testimony, practitioners can tip the scales by narrowing the applicable standard.