DOCTOR WELCOMES NATIONAL LOOK AT PAIN TREATMENT

GROVER - Grover physician Joseph Talley, who lost his license to practice
medicine in April, was featured on Monday night's CBS Evening News.

The story in the "Eye on America" segment centered on the debate in the
medical community over how pain medications are prescribed.

Since the decision by the N.C. Medical Board, Talley has continued helping
his patients find other doctors who can treat their chronic pain.

He still faces accusations from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration
linking him to the overdose deaths of 23 patients. He is also being
investigated in South Carolina in the deaths of 12 patients.

Earlier this year, the DEA suspended Talley's privileges to write
prescriptions for controlled substances.

Talley said the DEA show cause hearing was canceled after he lost his
medical license and the right to prescribe.

"I was never, ever given the opportunity to defend myself."

Talley said it's possible he could be indicted at any time by the DEA in
connection with the deaths.

DEA spokeswoman Rogene Waite did not return a call seeking comment about
the case.

Talley, 65, can ask for reinstatement of his medical license in April.

"If I'm a free man and able to do so, I will apply," Talley said about
getting back that license.

Talley spent part of the day Monday talking to a lupus patient who is
having trouble finding a new doctor.

He said some physicians are fearful of the drugs involved and government
regulators, including the DEA.

Talley said the CBS interview "was basically about the plight of pain
control itself, the principles of why you give them narcotics, why you
don't and the dilemma that the doctor faces."

The interview included a tour of Talley's toy workshop and his collection
of snakes.

"They'll have me and, I think, one of my patients on there," Talley said
about the interview, adding that he will take advantage of every
opportunity to educate the public about pain treatment.

"I would give my eye teeth to have the general public to just actually know
all of the hard-core facts," said Talley.

The embattled doctor said his fate could ultimately depend on the
perceptions of the public and a jury.

Talley said he continues working 10- to 12-hour days, most of that time
spent copying charts and making calls.

He also busies himself sorting through charts the DEA had seized and
writing about his recent experiences.

Talley said writing has helped spark his memory about events as they've
happened.

One misconception, he said, is that Oxycontin is a new drug. According to
Talley, it's just a higher dosage version of Oxycodone, which has been
around for 30 years.

He said it is difficult living with the knowledge that the DEA could come
in at any time.

"It's bad at times," he said. "It's been real discouraging from time to
time, but I have no choice."