Pubdate: Tue, 15 Oct 2002
Source: Mobile Register (AL)
Copyright: 2002 Mobile Register.
Contact:  http://www.al.com/mobileregister/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/269
Author: Mett B. Ausley

OF COURSE DOCTORS CAN BE PROSECUTED

Without elaborating, Baldwin County District Attorney David Whetstone 
claims state law makes it "nearly impossible" to prosecute physicians for 
criminally misprescribing narcotics ("Team tackles prescription drug 
abuse," Oct. 3).

Maybe Whetstone is just griping that convicting doctors for prescription 
abuse is more complicated than putting away crack dealers. Doctors have 
legitimate reasons to prescribe narcotics, and it isn't unreasonable to 
require that the prosecution prove the doctor knew the patient didn't need 
the medication.

There is subjectivity here that doesn't exist in a crack deal.

The notion that abusive doctors can't be successfully prosecuted is wrong. 
The recent outbreak of OxyContin abuse has led to convictions and prison 
terms for dozens of doctors nationwide.

It is important to recognize that rogue doctors are only partly to blame 
for prescription drug abuse.

But scapegoating "greedy doctors" makes good politics for authorities faced 
with public outcry over the mass incarceration of poor nonwhites in our 
failing drug war -- the diversionary tactic of triumphantly jailing a few 
affluent white doctors conveniently circumventing the need to address policy.

METT B. AUSLEY

Lake Waccamaw, N.C.
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