Linder v. United States
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Summary

In this 1925 Supreme Court case, the court overturned a conviction for a physician prescribing narcotics to an individual with an addiction, ruling that good-faith medical care falls outside federal control under the Harrison Act.

1925 | Federal Juristiction

Linder v. United States

Keywords medical practice; addiction treatment; Harrison Narcotics Act
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The Supreme Court's Decision in the 1925 Narcotics Case

The 1925 Supreme Court case addressed the intersection of medical practice and federal narcotics regulation. The Court's decision reversed a physician's conviction stemming from the prescription of narcotics to an addicted patient. The ruling established a precedent exempting bona fide medical treatment from the restrictions of the Harrison Act. This landmark case significantly clarified the boundaries of federal authority in regulating medical practices. The implications of the ruling continue to resonate in contemporary legal and medical discourse regarding the regulation of controlled substances and the physician-patient relationship.

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The Supreme Court's Ruling in 1925: United States v. Behrman

The 1925 Supreme Court case, United States v. Behrman, involved the conviction of a physician for prescribing narcotics to an addict. The Court overturned the conviction, establishing a precedent that legitimate medical practice, undertaken in good faith, lies beyond the regulatory reach of the federal Harrison Act. This decision significantly impacted the interpretation of federal authority over medical treatment. The ruling clarified the boundaries between medical practice and federal narcotics control, highlighting the importance of professional medical judgment in the context of addiction treatment. The implications of Behrman continue to resonate in contemporary legal and medical discussions surrounding controlled substances.

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The 1925 Supreme Court Case: A Turning Point in Medical Care

The 1925 Supreme Court case reversed a doctor's conviction for giving narcotics to an addict. The court decided that if a doctor acted in good faith, providing necessary medical care, the federal Harrison Act didn't apply. This ruling significantly altered the relationship between federal law and medical practice.

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The Doctor's Case

In 1925, a doctor got in trouble for giving medicine to someone who was addicted to drugs. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. The court said the doctor wasn't breaking the law because he was trying to help his patient. The government couldn't tell doctors how to treat their patients, especially when they were acting with good intentions.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

268 U.S. 5 (1925)

Highlights