Pubdate: Mon, 10 May 2004 Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL) Section: Pasco Times 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: Linda Paey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain) JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILED MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENT Re: Richard Paey case Editor: How could a court in the United States allow a disabled, multiple sclerosis patient in chronic pain be sentenced to 25 years and a $500,000 fine? A patient who worked with his doctor to get the pain relief he required and rightly needed but took on a personal risk to help protect the doctor from our justice system. A system that questions any move a doctor makes with a patient, no matter how legitimate the need, because the medicine they prescribe happens to be addictive. How can this happen here, in this country? Not only did our justice system allow the state to use trafficking laws meant for drug dealers, but it also allowed a conviction to stand even though we proved it was based on perjured testimony by the main witness. If the prosecutor can bring on a witness they know will lie on the stand, as in our case, then think what might have happened in other cases that couldn't prove perjury even though it was suspected. If not for Dwayne Hillis, the juror who came forward to express regret over his role, I would have wondered if there was anyone in the system brave enough to come forward and say this is terribly wrong and should not be happening. Thank you, Mr. Hillis. - -- Linda Paey, Hudson - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom