Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jan 2003
Source: Courier, The (LA)
Copyright: 2003 Houma Today
Contact:  http://www.houmatoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1477
Source: The Courier (LA)
Author: Lynette Klingman

DON'T WORSEN PLIGHT OF REAL PAIN SUFFERERS

Regarding the arrest of Dr. Walter Oliver Sanders, accused of trafficking 
in Oxycontin, the comment made by certain patients who claimed his waiting 
room was a "circus full of drug addicts" made me laugh. Such irony, 
considering they sat in the same waiting room!

If getting real pain relief (and quality of life) requires one to look a 
certain way, then call it unfair as well as ridiculous.

I've read of one guideline for doctors to judge a pain patient -- if they 
dress too shabby, or too nice, then automatically suspect them.

I thought pain was the issue, not fashion. The new motto for doctors has 
become "Suspect all, treat none."

It's a pity that so many must suffer when help is so readily available, if 
not for the stigma for both patient and doctor.

Many are poor because they can't work, because they can't get pain relief, 
because they get accused of drug-seeking behavior if they try -- an endless 
circle for someone who never asked for the ride to begin with.

I've never been a patient of Dr. Sanders, but I do suffer from a chronic 
pain condition, so I know what I'm talking about.

Relief is rare, and suicide more common among chronic-pain patients than 
society realizes or cares about -- a society so quick to assume that anyone 
in pain is an "addict" or "dealer." God help them if they ever become one 
of us, lest they have to eat their own words.

So few doctors care any more about treating suffering patients, that one 
who DOES treat pain with compassion finds their waiting rooms packed. I 
pity the real, honest pain patients of Dr. Sanders who now find themselves 
with no pain relief. Nobody cares about them, or ever has. But he did.

The more busts, the better. Doctors are just easy pickings. People are left 
to die for want of a simple pill that will enable them to be productive 
citizens. Never mind the street corner dealers. Let's crucify the doctors 
instead.

Hopefully law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration will stop 
second-guessing doctors' decisions and get off their high, judgmental 
horses -- because once they're done convicting the doctors, no pain 
medication of any kind will ever be available for anyone. And God help them 
then if they ever need pain relief themselves.

Lynette Klingman

Gray
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