Opinion of the Court
Hospitals Cannot Report Drug Test Results To Law Enforcement Officials
This case was granted certiorari on February 28, 2000, and was reversed and remanded on March 21, 2001. In a 6-to-3 decision, the Court held that the Constitution does not allow hospitals to report results of cocaine tests done on pregnant women to law enforcement officials. The following is excerpted from the summary of the majority opinion written by Justice Stevens, as prepared by the Court Reporter of Decisions:In the fall of 1988, staff members at the Charleston public hospital operated by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) became concerned about an apparent increase in the use of cocaine…
