With a one-sided perspective in regard to the new rules overseeing the prescription of pain-relieving narcotics in Washington, the Nov. 7 story “New rules on medications could leave chronic pain patients … In a world of hurt” fails to inform readers that physicians will be held accountable for the behavior of their patients. Doctors stand to not only pay huge fines, but the loss of their medical license and practice as well, a draconian response.
How anyone could conclude that there is no correlation between these new rules and the fact that doctors are now dropping patients left and right leaves one dumbfounded.
Further, the patient him/herself will be judged by a bureaucratic panel of their own personal behavior. To wit, buried in this law, if you smoke a cigarette or have a glass of wine with dinner at night, you will be classified as an “addict” and be treated like a criminal.
This is but the tip of the iceberg in the regrettable transformation that is occurring in this country as we move our health practices from the private to the public sector. What is next?
