OXYCONTIN RELIEVES INTRACTABLE PAIN

OxyContin provides pain relief for thousands of West Virginia patients who
suffer with cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Many coal miners
who have intractable pain from crushing injuries face the day because of
the pain relievers they take.

Coal mining and related services employ the most people in Southern West
Virginia and they experience greater risk to life and limb from job hazard
than almost any other occupation, which can leave them maimed or in a
painful condition.

Banning OxyContin would be a blow to the injured worker. As an orthopedic
surgeon, I treat hundreds of people every week who hurt from cancer and
job-related injuries who have expressed their affront over this bill and
feel that the Senate Majority leader introduced the bill to discredit me
because I am a Democrat, running against him in the 6th District state
Senate race.

He is running his campaign on the backs of West Virginia's sickest residents.

Diane E. Shafer, M.D.

Williamson