No. 20-1410October Term 2020Decided Jun 27, 2022Updated May 24, 2026
Ruan v. United States
Xiulu Ruan v. United States
This case asked what prosecutors must prove to convict a doctor under the federal drug law for prescribing controlled substances outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice.
Case status
Decided 9-0 · June 27, 2022 · Opinion by Justice Breyer
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 27, 2022
- What it's about
This case asked what prosecutors must prove to convict a doctor under the federal drug law for prescribing controlled substances outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice. The Supreme Court held that the government must show the doctor knowingly or intentionally acted without authorization, not just that the prescriptions were objectively improper.
Question presented
Whether a physician alleged to have prescribed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice may be convicted under Section 841(a)(1) without regard to whether, in good faith, he "reasonably believed" or "subjectively intended" that his prescriptions fall within that course of professional practice.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit / Decision released Jun 27, 2022
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided June 27, 2022
The Court released its decision on June 27, 2022 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 24, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: opinion
Jun 27, 2022 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Apr 5, 2021 | Court records
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology