Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 2004
Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Copyright: 2004 St. Petersburg Times
Contact: http://connect.sptimes.com/contactus/letterstoeditor.html
Website: http://www.sptimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Author: Rosemary Douglas

RICHARD PAEY SHOULD BE SPARED MORE PAIN

Editor: Some time ago, I served on a jury in a case similar to Richard 
Paey's. The young man involved had a prescription from the doctor for a 
limited amount of a drug which was also like the Paey case. He had severe 
pain - ongoing - and had to go to the doctor's office to have the 
prescription refilled. Because of circumstances (transportation, etc.) he 
had difficulty managing getting to the doctor's office where he had to wait 
his turn to see the doctor.

He had a prescription, but when he went to the drugstore, the amount had 
been increased. The druggist called the police and when he went to pick up 
his prescription, the police picked him up and arrested him. Our jury felt 
the whole thing could have been resolved at the drugstore. He was not 
selling the drug but was only concerned with his pain. We found him not 
guilty of trafficking the drug.

I would sincerely hope that Mr. Paey not be subjected to further pain.

-- Rosemary Douglas, New Port Richey