Pubdate: Thu, 28 Feb 2002
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2002 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Author: Diane E Shafer MD

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
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MAP posted-by: Beth