"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
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.
