“Legitimate Medical Purpose”: What is it and who defines it?

Ashcroft's directive declared that as assisting suicide was not "a legitimate medical purpose" under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 and that prescribing federally controlled drugs for that purpose was against the federal law. In today’s Supreme Court decision, Justice Scalia said in his dissent that he would uphold the administration's position. "If the term 'legitimate medical purpose' has any meaning, it surely excludes the prescription of drugs to produce death," he said.

What still remains is the question as to what physician acts represent “legitimate medical purpose” and particularly who are the ones to define it. ..Maurice.