UNCLE SAM: PERPETRATOR OF PAIN

Tougher times are ahead for people suffering serious pain. The federal
government is cracking down on prescription drug abuse. Potent
painkillers, primarily OxyContin, have soared in popularity among drug
abusers, but the feds' tactics are inadvertently hurting tens of
millions of innocent patients. Enforcers are increasing surveillance of
doctors who prescribe painkillers; their approach almost being: "If you
prescribe them, prove to us you're not guilty." And the feds are
tightening rules covering the circumstances in which these painkillers
can be prescribed.

It's no surprise that state regulators are getting into the act,
particularly in the aftermath of the publicity surrounding addicted
celebrities such as Rush Limbaugh.

Public officials, alas, have been about as prudent and sensible in
initiating these crackdowns as a thug wielding a sledgehammer.
Physicians can be held legally responsible if a patient abuses
something like OxyContin. They are also on the hook if the person they
prescribe the drug to ends up selling it illicitly. Prosecutors don't
necessarily have to prove criminal intent.

No doctor relishes being investigated simply because he or she
prescribes certain kinds of drugs. The tendency now, in too many
cases, is for doctors to undertreat pain. Can you blame them?
Sufferers of arthritis and cancer will suffer even more. This is truly
criminal.

For years the American medical profession undertreated pain for fear
that patients would become addicted to drugs such as heroin. People
needlessly suffered unnecessary agony, and many became severely
depressed. Most of serial killer Dr. Jack Kevorkian's "assisted
suicide" victims were such unfortunate folks.

Just as the medical profession became more aware of and re-sponsive to
the pain crisis--despite abuses, painkillers have immeasurably
improved the quality of life for millions of sufferers--it is being
forced to retreat because of heavy-handed law enforcement.

By all means, crack down on illegal online pill mills. Do give out
more warnings on how dangerous and potentially addictive some of these
medications can be. But subjecting physicians to harassment and the
fear of possible prosecution for helping to alleviate their patients'
pain is law enforcement malpractice of the first order.