The issue focused on medical liability laws that prevent doctors from suing medical providers who directly harm patients. Lawmakers recently voted to legalize liability lawsuits against doctors who illegally prescribe illegal drugs. The legislation now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk for final approval.

Since medical liability laws already bar liability lawsuits against doctors who illegally prescribe illegal drugs, doctors could sue patients who illegally obtained illegal drugs from illegal providers or illegally illegally purchased illegal drugs from doctors who illegally prescribe illegal drugs. But doctors could also sue patients who illegally obtain