Comments on: Blaming doctors for prescription drug abuse

By: Jeanne Hyatt

Jeanne Hyatt — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:57:29 +0000

Though I acknowledge that there is a problem for doctors and understand the need for controls, the problems suffered by the legitimate patients because of this mess are overwhelming. For over a year now legitimate pain patients in Florida have not been able to get their legal prescriptions regularly filled at their local pharmacies due to pressure on pharmacists by the DEA. I cannot begin to tell you of the difficulties that have ensued because of this situation by the patient being unable to continue regularly on their therapy but I am sure that a lot of the legitimate patients are ending up in the ER because of them. http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pinellas/critics-claim-pain-pill-legislation-creates-obstacle-course-for-law-abiding-doctors-patients

By: Millie Andreasen

Millie Andreasen — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 21:04:55 +0000

As a patient that suffer from intractable pain, I can’t believe that Doctor’s will actually leave a person to suffer in pain because they are afraid of the patient over dosing, what about patient education? What about medication contracts that put the responsibility on the patient? I understand that there are a LOT of people that abuse these medications, but there are thousands if not millions of people like me, that suffer from chronic or intractable pain that depend on these medications to live a semi normal life, what about us?? What ever happened to “do no harm”? I believe that there should be a balance between prescribing and over prescribing, there should be a balance were a person that goes to an ER with chronic pain will be treated like a human being and not an addict. I know and understand that Doctor’s; specially emergency physicians are in a very tough position, because they don’t know the patient’s history, habits, etc. but the alternative is in-human! Even a dog will get pain relief if needed, so why can’t we??

By: WhiteCoat

WhiteCoat — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:12:37 +0000

Ron,
Which case?
If you Google “physician criminal charges patient death”, you’ll get 14 million hits.
Even if such cases go nowhere, the physicians are threatened with incarceration, license loss, and have to pay for criminal attorneys to defend them.
Then, after several years, prosecutors can shrug their shoulders and dismiss the charges. Physician ruined.
Same thing is happening with criminal prosecution of attorneys as well.
Look into it.

By: Ron Miller

Ron Miller — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:56:45 +0000

That case is not going anywhere. Because it is dumb. But you can change the facts around and I could buy into it.

By: throckmorton

throckmorton — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 21:53:27 +0000

I agree that it is important to manage but narcotics are not always the option. I cant tell you how many times I have had to come and give narcan to the pots VATS on the PCA. There are other ways to help decrease pain such as toradol and other agents. It is one thing to manage pain, it is another to make pain free. the somnolent over narced patient doesnt do much except hypoventilate and die.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 17:04:24 +0000

“there’s a decent chance they’ll be dragged through administrative and legal proceedings regarding the death.”

Interesting claim. What is the chance? 20%? 10%? 80%? Do tell.

By: SeaSpray

SeaSpray — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 17:25:55 +0000

Thank you.

I’ve wondered about people driving on these meds and sleep meds like Lunesta and Ambian. Even antidepressants. And some people drive on a mixture of these! I recall seeing meds listed on triage sheets (Ha! In bygone days when staff wrote by hand , and wondered how people drove. Now add talking on cell phones to the mix and even worse – TEXTING while driving.

I mention sleep aids because I had an alarming experience while taking Lunesta and will n-e-v-e-r e-v-e-r take that or any drug like it again.

http://seaspray-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-did-ditzy-thing-at-urologist-office.html

By: Pain

Pain — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 05:42:18 +0000

Pain can kill. For example, a post-thoracotomy patient with poor pain control can hypoventilate, leading to atalectsis, pneumonia, intubation, etc.

Or a post op patient who doesnt ambulate because of pain, gets a PE and dies.

I agree that pain isnt a vital sign, but its still important to manage.

By: throckmorton

throckmorton — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:42:24 +0000

The pain medications kill by different mechanisms. Repiratory depression and automobile are the most common. Respiratory depression only kills the person taking too much of the medication where the automobile tends to also kill others.

I am always amazing the number of people who are out driving while taking oxycontin, hydros and percs. Not to mention xanax for their nerves, flexeril for their back and a few Buds thrown in for good measure.

By: SeaSpray

SeaSpray — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:29:29 +0000

Thank you – I did figure that, but I thought even if taken normally and doctor aware of all meds. That there was something inherent in the use of it even under the best circumstances.

if I get a new med for anything …even an OTC (cold med) product…I have a habit of ALWAYS running it by my pharmacist …even eye drops.