Discussion Forum 8: Increased Cases of Opioid Misuse

In the view of increased cases of opioid misuse, clinicians implemented the opioid contract which is signed by a patient bearing conditions which have to be implemented for continues access to opioid medications. However, the opioid contract is not legally binding and places an obligation on the side of the patient only, while on the side of the physician it is viewed as a way to ‘just say no’ to patients when they go against the contract conditions. According to the AMA Code of Medical Ethics: “While physicians have the option of withdrawing from a case, they cannot do so without giving notice to the patient, the relatives, or responsible friends sufficiently long in advance of withdrawal to permit another medical attendant to be secured." Therefore, malpractice litigation would be justified if a physician terminated provision of health service for opioid patients. Also, based on the principle of continuity of care, it would be a malpractice for a physician to terminate the provision of were legally prescribed pain medications for patients addicted to opioid leading to litigation.