Civil law governs relations between individuals and organizations, and is used when a wrongful act is committed against another person. Criminal law governs relations between individuals and the government, and is used when a wrongful act harms society. The Controlled Substances Act classifies drugs into five schedules based on their potential for abuse and addiction, from Schedule I which has no accepted medical use to Schedule V which has a limited addiction potential. Prescriptions must be issued and signed only by the registered health professional. A subpoena is a court order that can demand a person or medical records, while an expert witness testifies in court about the standard of care in a particular medical field.

1. MEDA 112 Medical Law Ethics & BioethicsChapter 4 Legal Guidelines for Health Professionals

2. Legal GuidelinesCivil Lawaffects relations between individuals, corporations, government bodies & organizationsCivil law is used when someone commits a wrongful act against a personCriminal Lawaffects relations between individuals and government: acts against the welfare & safety of public or societyCriminal law is used when someone commits a wrongful act against society

3. Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970Controlled Substances ActClassified into SchedulesSchedule I – most addictive, no medicinal useSchedule II-high potential for abuseSchedule III-moderate to low potential for physical dependence Schedule IV-mild physical or psychological dependenceSchedule V-limited potential for physical or psychological dependence

4. Issuing PrescriptionsOnly person authorized to sign is the registrant- registered in that stateLegal document

5. SubpoenaCourt order for person or data (medical record)Subpoena ducestecem: “bring the record with you”

6. Expert WitnessTestifies to standard of care of that field of medicine in that community

7. Due Wednesday:Read HCA Lawhttps://mail.oc.ctc.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-826In class assignment on Wednesday will reflect your understanding of this law