Medical Malpractice? The Deadly Gamble of Denying Opioid Addiction Medication
- Scandal Unveiled: An addiction treatment authority, Carter, charges in a new book that withholding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction resembles medical malpractice.
- Lifesaving Care Denied: MAT slashes overdose deaths by 50%8 and is the gold standard7, yet only about 25% of U.S. adults needing OUD treatment received it in 20222.
- Ethical Breach: Experts warn that denying MAT violates medical ethics and patients' right to informed consent for proven, life-saving care7.
A thunderous accusation rocks the medical establishment! In a new, hard-hitting book, board-certified nurse practitioner Carter, a recognized authority on addiction recovery, declares that denying Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid and fentanyl addiction is not merely negligent—it dangerously borders on medical malpractice. "Too many providers still avoid MAT altogether," Carter asserts. "That's not just a missed opportunity. It's a failure of care."
The stakes are terrifyingly high. MAT, incorporating FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone, is heralded as the "gold standard"7, scientifically proven to reduce agonizing cravings, ease withdrawal, and cut the risk of fatal overdose by an astonishing 50%8. Yet, a grim reality persists: in 2022, a mere 25% of U.S. adults battling opioid use disorder received this critical, life-saving care2, with disparities worsening for groups like Black adults and women1. This gaping treatment chasm leaves countless individuals battling a relentless disease unaided, dramatically increasing their risk of relapse and death. Carter warns this isn't just poor practice; it's a potential violation of medical ethics and a patient's fundamental right to informed consent by withholding proven care7. "MAT is not an optional extra. It's the gold standard," Carter insists. "Withholding it increases harm." The call is clear: the medical field must confront this crisis of care before more lives are needlessly lost.
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