Antabuse can lead to death or dangerous healh problems. The doctor is and will be responsible for that, so he wont take the risk.

"Antabuse can lead to death or dangerous health problems."

So can a slew of other drugs. You should see the drug risks for stuff folks take for autoimmune disorders. It isn't just up to the doctor to mitigate the risks: Patients must do their part as well (blood tests and so on).

And most importantly: So can alcoholism. Alcoholism kills slowly. Withdrawal can kill not-so-slowly. Somehow, do you think the doctor is not responsible for refusing help when the alternative risks include death as well?

That said, I'm not a doctor and there are generally (but not always) good reasons to avoid a drug or another. The risk of drugs by itself usually isn't it, though, as it depends on effectiveness compared to other drugs/methods and comparing the risk of cure to the risk of continued disease.

Sorry if you already know this, but the difference with disulfiram/Antabuse is that these side effects are intentional and are supposed to act as a deterrent to consuming alcohol. The fact that it can kill you if you mix it with booze is why people take it, as far as I understand it

> So can a slew of other drugs

Dr isn't legally liable for drugs you find on your own.

Dr. isn't legally liable if they act within the norms of the profession with with informed consent. Almost any drug can cause death or dangerous health problems.

I was speaking of prescription drugs here, the very ones you have to visit the doctor to get. I thought with the context that would have been clear.