DEATH FUELS BROUHAHA OVER OXYCONTIN PRESCRIBING PRACTICES

Lawsuits Against The Drug's Manufacturer Have Snowballed. And A Florida
Physician Faces Murder Charges In Connection With A Prescription For The Drug.

It doesn't look like the controversy surrounding the painkiller OxyContin
will be abating any time soon.

What started with a couple of lawsuits filed against the drug's
manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, has snowballed into 13 civil cases filed in
the eastern United States. And in Florida, one physician has been charged
with murder, accused of improperly prescribing the drug that contributed to
a 21-year-old man's death.

The murder charge was part of an 80-count indictment a Florida grand jury
handed down against family physician Denis Deonarine, MD. Dr. Deonarine
also is charged with racketeering and drug trafficking involving oxycodone
hydrochloride, alprazolam and diazepam.

The first-degree murder charge is in connection with the death of Michael
Labzda. He died in February, and an autopsy found oxycodone hydrochloride
and alprazolam in his blood. The state accused Dr. Deonarine of prescribing
the drugs without medical documentation justifying the need, according to
court documents.

Dr. Deonarine pleaded not guilty to the charges and is free on bail.
Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful, and calls to his attorney were not
returned. Dr. Deonarine's indictment has put some Florida physicians on
edge about prescribing OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride).

"It will have a negative impact," said Miami pain medicine specialist
Albert Ray, MD, president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. "It
affects patients' perception of the treatment, and it affects the
physicians when it comes to prescribing."

However, licensing boards say few doctors have lost their license over
prescribing the drug.

People with chronic pain describe the drug as a miracle cure, but it also
has become an illicit street drug that users crush and snort or dissolve
and inject to get a powerful high. OxyContin's illegal use has been most
prevalent in the southeastern United States.

Thirteen lawsuits have been filed against the drug's manufacturer. Doctors
also are named in some of the suits, which have been filed in Ohio, West
Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky. Some suits claim the company marketed the
drug in a coercive and deceptive manner. Plaintiffs want the company to
take responsibility for overdoses and deaths related to the drug. Purdue
Pharma spokesman Robin Hogen said the problems with OxyContin are limited
to drug abusers.

"It's a very safe drug," Hogen said. "It's very unusual for any patients
under physician care to have an adverse reaction to the drug." The American
Academy of Pain Medicine and others are working to give physicians and
medical students more information on the best ways to treat pain.