New at Reason

July 18, 2007

William Hurwitz certainly never acted like a criminal or a dodgy doctor, notes Jacob Sullum. So why is he being treated like one?

Comments

Dave W.|7.18.07 @ 7:14AM|#

Here is an even better "he never acted like a criminal so why is he being treated like one?" from today's news:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289722,00.html

It relates to the recent car bombings in London and Glasgow. Long story short: Australia is threatening criminal punishment because a terror suspect has revealed that he repeatedly tried to call police prior to being arrested. They think it might be contempt to let the public know this little factoid. The mind boggles.

|7.18.07 @ 8:20AM|#

If I remember correctly there is (at least) a recent history of US attorneys focusing on different priorities in enforcement of federal law, and recent GOP administrations have, compared to Clinton's two terms, focused more on 'obscenity' (read: porn) and prescription drugs. We are getting ready to see more of this as fallout from the Benoit tragedy. A few years ago a zealous US Attorney had a doctor for the WWE up on charges in a trial in which Hulk Hogan, among others, gave testimony. The GOP attorneys also try to go for more immigration cases. I'm not sure what Clinton's guys focused on, probably ATF type stuff, but that is just a guess.

|7.18.07 @ 9:16AM|#

I believe it's getting very difficult to recieve a fair trial.The laws are being written to favor easier convictions.Plus the 24 hour cable 'news' with many of their experts pronouncing guilt in many cases where the facts are not clear.[Ex. see Duke rape case].Hence we have a jury pool all ready tainted.

Ludwig Von Mises|7.18.07 @ 9:33AM|#

If it is true that government derives its authority from God and is entrusted by Providence to act as the guardian of the ignorant and stupid populace, then it is certainly its task to regiment every aspect of the subject's conduct. The God-sent ruler knows better what is good for his wards than they do themselves. It is his duty to guard them against the harm they would inflict upon themselves if left alone.

LarryA|7.18.07 @ 12:40PM|#

My cousin, who lives with us, is getting the "We'd rather you live with pain than get addicted" story from the VA. Then they send her for a psychiatric consult to see why she's depressed. When she tells them it's because she's in constant pain they prescribe anti-depressants to deal with the problem she wouldn't have if they gave her the pain meds she needs.

This is not a case where they think she's exaggerating. Scans clearly show the degeneration of the joints that are giving her trouble.

The good news is that since the doctors work for the VA they are less likely to be targeted by the DEA.

I'm not sure what Clinton's guys focused on, probably ATF type stuff, but that is just a guess.

Sort of. They went after gun dealers for failed-to-dot-I-cross-T violations, and administratively forced about 80% of the folks with Federal Firearms Licenses to surrender them. But they refused to prosecute felon-in-possession type offenses.

If it is true that government derives its authority from God...

We fixed that back in 1776. It's getting to be time for an encore.

Tym|7.18.07 @ 3:12PM|#

My cousin, who lives with us, is getting the "We'd rather you live with pain than get addicted" story from the VA.

That is a value judgement.

Dependance and tolerance buildup in the context of a medical need is NOT addiction. Addiction is a psychological compulsion probably but not necessarily in conjunction with dependance and tolerance buildup. The former increases the persions ability to function, while the later decreases it. Maybe she should see a physician trained in the latest pain treatment techniques.

Then they send her for a psychiatric consult to see why she's depressed. When she tells them it's because she's in constant pain they prescribe anti-depressants to deal with the problem she wouldn't have if they gave her the pain meds she needs.

Interestingly, antidepressants, particularly the older tricyclics like Elavil, as well as some anticonvulsants like Tegretol and Neurontin have pain relief properties, but mostly for neuropathic pain.

Antidepressants and Pain

I wish her luck.

|7.18.07 @ 5:02PM|#

I just needed to whine. I'm a trauma surgeon (read lots of acute pain treatment). I don't want to police people's lives/pain tolerance/likelihood of diversion. Frankly if you've got pain I'd like nothing else rather than give you the meds you need. But I'd like not to go to jail either. Sucks. If if were up to me you could buy Percocet at Wal-Mart OTC.

Robert|7.18.07 @ 10:07PM|#

It's a problem even in acute pain rx like trauma cases?

Robert|7.18.07 @ 10:10PM|#

From what I've seen, the best option for many chronic pain patients may be to proclaim themselves "addicts" and get on methadone maintenance. If they need to go thru a period of using illicitly obtained narcotics to prove their "addiction", that's probably not a bad price to pay, and it keeps docs out of trouble.

|7.19.07 @ 3:21PM|#

I don't use dope of any kind, including tobacco and alcohol.

From where I'm sitting, the whole issue looks pretty stupid, with the Dope Employment Agency ranting and raving about medical marijuana . . .as they sit at the cop bar, soaking their brains in solvent and sucking in the smoke of formaldehyde-soaked nicotine.

I think that any time the question comes up, the Pro-Hibitionists should be asked about their additions to tobacco and alcohol, and have them describe in detail how it's better to be drunk than to take stuff to lower pain.

|7.19.07 @ 7:05PM|#

I work in pharmacy and it is not uncommon to see patients on 160 mg of OxyContin a day or higher...a dose apparently outside the "professional norm". Chronic pain sufferers who use opioids become tolerant and doses must be increased to provide relief. This is scary stuff.

|7.20.07 @ 8:18PM|#

"The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."

randy|7.21.07 @ 3:03PM|#

At the root of the problem is the Controlled Substances Act. The CSA gives law enforcement, rather than doctors, the authority on regulating opioids and other drugs. They need to abolish the CSA.