JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILED MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENT

Re: Richard Paey case

Editor: How could a court in the United States allow a disabled, multiple
sclerosis patient in chronic pain be sentenced to 25 years and a $500,000 fine?

A patient who worked with his doctor to get the pain relief he required and
rightly needed but took on a personal risk to help protect the doctor from
our justice system. A system that questions any move a doctor makes with a
patient, no matter how legitimate the need, because the medicine they
prescribe happens to be addictive. How can this happen here, in this country?

Not only did our justice system allow the state to use trafficking laws
meant for drug dealers, but it also allowed a conviction to stand even
though we proved it was based on perjured testimony by the main witness. If
the prosecutor can bring on a witness they know will lie on the stand, as
in our case, then think what might have happened in other cases that
couldn't prove perjury even though it was suspected.

If not for Dwayne Hillis, the juror who came forward to express regret over
his role, I would have wondered if there was anyone in the system brave
enough to come forward and say this is terribly wrong and should not be
happening. Thank you, Mr. Hillis.

- -- Linda Paey, Hudson