Pill Mill Ruling Raises Burden for Opioid Cases Against Doctors

Doctors prescribing controlled substances can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to a Supreme Court decision in favor of two physicians who had been charged with peddling opioids.

The justices this week upped the burden of proof for prosecutors looking to hold physicians accountable for their role in fueling America’s opioid crisis. The government now has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a doctor intended to or knew they were acting in an unauthorized manner when prescribing controlled substances—an outcome attorneys count as a victory for doctors treating pain.

This “completely raises the bar for the government bringing criminal ...