America is in the midst of an opioid crisis. In this case, the government brought criminal charges against two physicians accused of running “pill mills.” The criminal charges arise under the Controlled Substances Act, a federal narcotics statute aimed at combatting drug abuse. The government argues the Act calls for an objective standard to determine if the physicians are guilty of writing illegitimate prescriptions: Would a hypothetical reasonable physician believe the prescription was illegitimate? The two doctors argue the Act imposes a subjective standard: Did they personally have the knowledge and intent to write illegitimate prescriptions?

Legal Docket is made possible in part by Samaritan Ministries, a Biblical and affordable solution to health care, connecting more than 280,000 Christians across the nation who help pay one another’s medical bills. More at samaritanministries.org/worldpodcast.