The Los Angeles County district attorney's office declined Friday to press charges against several physicians, ending its investigation into allegations that they over-prescribed painkillers to actress Elizabeth Taylor. In a written report, the district attorney's office said the prescribing practices "fell below the accepted standard of medical practice," but added that the doctors "were also attempting to deal with her addiction through alternative means of therapy and treatment, and . . . their conduct was devoid of criminal intent." The report said one of the physicians repeatedly tried to persuade her to enter a rehabilitation clinic but "these efforts to intervene were strongly resisted by Ms. Taylor until October, 1988." Taylor, 58, acknowledged a 35-year addiction to sleeping pills and painkillers and has been treated for alcohol and drug abuse at the Betty Ford Clinic in Rancho Mirage.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office declined Friday to press charges against Elizabeth Taylor's physicians for allegedly overprescribing pain-killers. They said the investigation was ended. While agreeing that their treatment fell below medical standards, authorities said the doctors had also attempted alternative means of dealing with the addiction, and treatment was "...devoid of criminal intent." The report said one physician had tried repeatedly to persuade Miss Taylor to enter a rehabilitation facility but that she refused until October of 1988. Miss Taylor, 58, has admitted to a 35-year addiction to sleeping and pain-killing medication and has been treated at the Betty Ford clinic.