Ruan v. United States
United States Supreme Court
597 U.S. 450, 142 S. Ct. 2370, 213 L.Ed.2d 706 (2022)
- Written by Eric Miller, JD
Facts
Xiulu Ruan (defendant) and Shakeel Khan (defendant) were doctors licensed to prescribe controlled substances, including opioids. In separate cases, the United States government (plaintiff) charged Ruan and Khan with violating § 841 of the Controlled Substances Act, which prohibited the manufacture, distribution, or dispensation of controlled substances—knowingly or intentionally—except as authorized. Ruan and Khan argued that the opioid prescriptions they issued were for legitimate medical purposes, thus invoking the exception for authorization in § 841. However, Ruan and Khan were both convicted, and both appealed. The consolidated appeals reached the United States Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Breyer, J.)
Concurrence (Alito, J.)
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