The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that doctors can face homicide charges, in certain instances, if the drugs they prescribe are used by one of their patients during a fatal overdose on the medication. It is the first New York high court decision to rely on the legal theory in a homicide case.

The decision, which was nearly unanimous, means the manslaughter conviction of Dr. Stan XuHui Li of Queens over the deaths of two of his patients will be allowed to stand.