RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN MEDICINE AND THE LAW.

The article presents information on the developments in the field of medicine and law from October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011. It discusses surveys regarding the non-malpractice legal theories against health care providers, and relating to medical marijuana law. It reflects on an East Coast trend towards legitimizing the medical use of marijuana, and focuses on the issues regarding the justification of use of marijuana by a patient with chronic pain. It is mentioned that California law is liberal on this issue, and informs about the consensus on the treatment of diseases like cancer, glaucoma, and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) with marijuana drug.