The learned intermediary doctrine states that manufacturers of prescription drugs and medical devices are not liable for injuries caused by their products if they have provided adequate warnings to healthcare providers. This is because healthcare providers are considered to be the learned intermediaries between manufacturers and patients, and they are responsible for informing patients about the risks and benefits of medical products.

The learned intermediary doctrine is intended to ensure that patients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of medical products before they use them. This is because healthcare providers are considered to be the experts in medical care, and they are responsible for providing patients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their treatment.

In order to assert a learned intermediary defense, a manufacturer must show that it provided adequate warnings to healthcare providers, that the healthcare provider failed to warn the patient about the risks of the product, and that the patient suffered an injury as a result of using the product.

Healthcare providers are required to provide patients with all of the information they need to make informed decisions about their treatment, to follow the manufacturer's instructions for using the product, and to warn patients about the risks of the product, even if the manufacturer has not provided adequate warnings.

Courts consider a number of factors when evaluating the adequacy of a manufacturer's warnings, including the severity of the risks associated with the product, the likelihood that the patient will suffer an injury from using the product, the availability of alternative products with a lower risk of injury, and the manufacturer's knowledge of the risks associated with the product.

In a learned intermediary case, a plaintiff can assert a number of defenses, including that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings to healthcare providers, that the healthcare provider failed to warn the patient about the risks of the product, that the patient was not properly informed about the risks of the product, and that the product was defective.

The learned intermediary doctrine makes it more difficult for plaintiffs to win product liability lawsuits because it shields manufacturers from liability in cases where they have provided adequate warnings to healthcare providers. This is because healthcare providers are considered to be the learned intermediaries between manufacturers and patients, and they are responsible for informing patients about the risks and benefits of medical products.

The learned intermediary doctrine is recognized in most jurisdictions, but there is some variation in how it is applied. In some jurisdictions, the doctrine is applied more strictly than in others. This means that the outcome of a product liability lawsuit involving the learned intermediary doctrine can vary depending on the jurisdiction in which the lawsuit is filed.

The learned intermediary doctrine has been criticized for shielding manufacturers from liability for injuries caused by their products, for making it difficult for patients to recover compensation for injuries caused by defective products, and for discouraging healthcare providers from fully informing patients about the risks of medical products.

There are a number of proposals for reforming the learned intermediary doctrine, including abolishing the doctrine, limiting the scope of the doctrine, requiring manufacturers to provide more comprehensive warnings to healthcare providers, and requiring healthcare providers to provide more comprehensive information to patients.

The future of the learned intermediary doctrine is uncertain. Some experts believe that the doctrine is likely to be abolished or limited in scope, while others believe that it is likely to remain in place. The outcome of this debate will depend on a number of factors, including the views of courts, legislatures, and the public.

The Supreme Court of the United States first recognized the learned intermediary doctrine in the case of Bates v. Dow Agrosciences LLC (2005).

The Learned Intermediary Rule is a legal doctrine that holds manufacturers of prescription drugs and medical devices are not liable for injuries caused by their products if they have provided adequate warnings to healthcare providers.

The purpose of the Learned Intermediary Rule is to ensure that patients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of medical products.