March 21, 2001

Supreme Court Rejects Maternal Drug Tests

In a 6 to 3 decision, the Supreme Court has held that public hospitals may not test pregnant women for drug use and release the results to law enforcement without the patient’s consent or a warrant. The case arose from a South Carolina Public Hospital’s policy of drug testing pregnant women who exhibited certain symptoms linked to substance abuse.

Ferguson v. City of Charleston, 99-936, Supreme Court Web Site.
Pregnant Women Must OK Drug Tests, MSNBC.com, March 21, 2001. Posted by at March 21, 2001 11:52 AM