Patients ask feds to feel their pain

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http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/05/10/prsb0510.htm

The physician who organized the gathering of patients with chronic

pain hopes it planted seeds for a grassroots movement.

By Andis Robeznieks, AMNews staff. May 10, 2004.

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A three-day gathering of chronic-pain patients in Washington, D.C.,

was marked by conferences, rallies and meetings with members of

Congress. Attendance wasn't overwhelming, but the Rev. Myers,

MD, said that wasn't the point.

" The purpose wasn't to get a million people on the mall, " the Tchula,

Miss.-based family physician said; it was mobilizing pain patients to

persuade Congress to hold hearings on the ill effects of the U.S.

Drug Enforcement Administration's anti-diversion program for

prescription drugs.

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Dr. Myers organized the meetings to help establish leadership roles

for patients, which he thinks will be more successful in reforming

the program than physician-led efforts.

" If you're a Congressman, who are you going to respond to: a couple

hundred doctors or several thousand pain patients and their

families? " he asked.

On April 20, the one hundred or so participants met with several

members of Congress. Dr. Myers noted that Bennie (D, Miss.)

and Ron , MD (R, Texas), were among the most receptive.

Dr. would probably support Dr. Myers' call for hearings, his

spokesman Jeff Deist said.

The DEA arrested 50 physicians for improper prescribing in fiscal

2003.

" It's an intimidating environment for doctors, so it would be good to

shine a public light on the DEA's actions, " Deist said. " The sinister

atmosphere that has been created has prevented doctors from

prescribing medications like OxyContin because they're afraid of

criminal prosecution. ... My boss is always chagrined at how doctors

let themselves be pushed around. "

A former Houston ob-gyn, Dr. writes a weekly column, " Texas

Straight Talk. " His April 19 column was " The federal war on pain

relief. "

" The sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship is being destroyed

by federal bureaucrats, who have turned the drug war into a war on

pain relief, " Dr. wrote. " Americans suffering from chronic pain

and their doctors are the real victims of this unprincipled and

medically unsound federal campaign. "

DEA representative Rogene Waite said the agency arrested 50 doctors

in fiscal 2003 for improper prescribing.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Weblink

Office of National Drug Control Policy on reducing prescription drug

abuse (www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press04/030104.html)

U.S. Dept. of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of

Diversion Control (www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov)

" The Federal War on Pain Relief, " Texas Straight Talk, April 19

column by U.S. Rep. Ron , MD (R, Texas)

(www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2004/tst041904.htm