Alaska Doctor Cleared of Malpractice for Withdrawing Drugs

An Alaska couple lost their medical malpractice case against a doctor they accused of causing the wife’s seizure by abruptly withdrawing her medications, because they didn’t have sufficient expert medical testimony, the state’s top court said.

William and Marcie Beistline didn’t raise a jury question on whether Bruce Footit violated the standard of care when treating Marcie because their expert witness—a doctor of pharmacy—conceded he didn’t know whether the withdrawal protocols known to a pharmacist would also be within the general knowledge of a board-certified internal medicine physician, the Alaska Supreme Court said.

Footit, on the other hand, had an ...