Year: 2001
Type: article
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.
Source: PubMed
Author: M J Mehlman
Institution: Case Western Reserve University
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2175704927