A bill has been proposed in the Vermont House to make sure that health care providers follow guidelines for prescribing opioid pain medications to reduce the risk of a patient becoming addicted.
A lead sponsor, Rep. Cynthia Browning, says the bill is an attempt to put into statute the current best practices of medical practitioners regarding opioid prescriptions. Browning says the bill also provides for right of action if a medical provider doesn't follow the best practices and a patient becomes addicted, meaning a patient could sue for damages.
The bill is sponsored by two other Bennington area lawmakers and 32 co-sponsors.
Some in the medical community have concerns about transforming prescription guidelines into law and specifying the right of patients to sue for damages.
