Pill Bill Killed

A bill that would have created a computerized prescription drug monitoring system in Florida in an effort to prevent "diversion" of opioids died in the state legislature last week. Opponents argued that the system would invade patients' privacy and exacerbate the problem of inadequate pain treatment by making physicians more fearful of prescribing narcotics. The Pain Relief Network, which lobbied against the legislation, says the measure also was hurt by publicity surrounding the case of Richard Paey, the Florida man who recently received a 25-year sentence for obtaining drugs to treat his severe chronic pain.