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Challenges Facing the American Healthcare System
Published in Kant Patel, Mark Rushefsky, Healthcare Politics and Policy in America, 2019
State governments were beginning to take action to address the problem of overdose deaths caused by heroin and the illegal use of prescription drugs. For example, by 2014, 17 states and the District of Columbia had passed “Good Samaritan” laws that granted limited immunity to drug users who seek help. The Good Samaritan laws vary slightly from state to state but the basic idea behind them is that anyone who seeks help in the case of an overdose cannot be prosecuted for possession of small amounts of drugs or drug paraphernalia. However, such laws do not grant immunity for other crimes such as drug trafficking. Similarly, 17 states had expanded access to naloxone, known by its brand name Narcan, a medication that quickly reverses the effects of opioid overdose (Ollove 2014). By 2015, 26 states had passed Good Samaritan laws and 34 states had facilitated access to naloxone medication (Chokshi 2015). By 2016, 48 states had authorized some variation of a law that provided access to naloxone medication (Ayers and Jalal 2018).
Medical Jurisprudence in Otorhinolaryngology
Published in John C Watkinson, Raymond W Clarke, Louise Jayne Clark, Adam J Donne, R James A England, Hisham M Mehanna, Gerald William McGarry, Sean Carrie, Basic Sciences Endocrine Surgery Rhinology, 2018
To establish a duty it is necessary for a doctor/patient relationship to be in existence. There is no Good Samaritan law in the UK, and doctors only have a legal responsibility to people they have agreed to treat. In general practice the agreement arises by virtue of accepting a patient onto one’s list. In a hospital setting, the agreement arises either out of the doctor’s terms and conditions of employment or, with private patients, as a result of contract.
Medical ethics and patient safety
Published in John Tingle, Pippa Bark, Patient Safety, Law Policy and Practice, 2011
The principle of beneficence envelops the expectation that healthcare providers actively contribute to the welfare and wellbeing of those in their custody. It also includes the job of an appropriate balance between benefits and risks or costs. Some jurisdictions have enshrined a principle of beneficence in criminal law – sometimes called the Good Samaritan law – which requires individuals to positively act for the benefit of those in need or else risk punishment. This reflects a notion of general beneficence towards the world at large, which is convincingly described as overly romantic and impractical by Beauchamp and Childress.22
Emotional reactions of trained overdose responders who use opioids following intervention in an overdose event
Published in Substance Abuse, 2022
Laura Brandt, Aimee N. C. Campbell, Jermaine D. Jones, Suky Martinez, Joanne Neale, Stephen Parkin, Caral Brown, John Strang, Sandra D. Comer
With few exceptions,31,32 qualitative studies that have focused on the experiences of peer responders place an emphasis on the tasks performed in the context of administering naloxone, such as identification of the overdose, first responses/first aid, calling 911, use of naloxone, and how and why specific actions were taken.33–37 These first-hand accounts provide useful information for refining OEND training programs to better prepare responders, increase OEND’s effectiveness in decreasing overdose mortality, and for adapting legislation to lower barriers to intervention. An example of the latter is the institution of Good Samaritan Laws to increase the likelihood that a peer responder calls 911 without hesitation due to fear of repercussion. Nonetheless, this focus on intervention actions and direct outcomes of naloxone administration has meant limited attention has been paid to peer responders’ perception of being involved in these events. As a result, few attempts have been made to tailor support following an overdose reversal.
The impact of medical school education on the opioid overdose crisis with concurrent training in naloxone administration and MAT
Published in Journal of Addictive Diseases, 2020
E. N. Waskel, S. C. Antonio, G. Irio, J. L. Campbell, J. Kramer
The SOMA OPTF leadership is advocating through local resources, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, police departments, sheriff departments, and needle exchange programs, to provide training and distribution of naloxone into the communities harboring the greatest need. Specifically, these efforts focus on Good Samaritan Laws, increased access to naloxone, and increased access to MAT education. Good Samaritan Laws were created to protect anyone acting in good faith to help save someone’s life from prosecution or arrest.8 In roughly twenty states the most vulnerable populations are not being covered under these laws.8 This includes those who are on probation or on parole and individuals suffering from drug possession charges, which leads to delays in care and, consequently, unnecessary overdose death.8 Working with state leaders, students are advocating for more inclusive laws to protect these vulnerable populations. For instance, the OPTF Vice Chair has met with Senator Soules from District 37 in the state of New Mexico to discuss legislation impacting naloxone accessibility.
Suspected involvement of fentanyl in prior overdoses and engagement in harm reduction practices among young adults who use drugs
Published in Substance Abuse, 2019
Jacqueline E. Goldman, Maxwell S. Krieger, Jane A. Buxton, Mark Lysyshyn, Susan G. Sherman, Traci C. Green, Edward Bernstein, Scott E. Hadland, Brandon D. L. Marshall
Rhode Island, the state with the 10th highest rate of overdose per capita in 2016,18 has experienced a sudden rise in the rate of fentanyl-related overdoses over the past 5 years.19 Fentanyl contributed to 56% of all accidental overdose deaths in 2016 (up from <3% in 2012); 28% of the fentanyl-involved overdose decedents were between 18 and 29 years of age.20 In a recent Rhode Island study of young adults who use prescription opioids nonmedically, 11% reported suspected consumption of drugs contaminated with fentanyl.21 A separate study found that the majority of people who use drugs are aware of the risk associated with fentanyl consumption and would like to avoid fentanyl exposure, if possible.22 Rhode Island has also enacted legislation that allows for and supports harm reduction programming and practice. For example, the Good Samaritan Law, first enacted in 2012 and reinstated in 2016, grants limited legal immunity for those who seek or receive medical services related to drug-related overdose or medical emergency.23 Additionally, as early as 2012, Rhode Island has implemented a series of regulations that have created a standing order for naloxone, required hospitals and health care professionals to report naloxone administration, and expanded coverage of health insurance to include overdose prevention medications.24