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July 9, 2008 5:17:24 AM CDT



Ouch—Doc's Trial Highlights Pain Issues

Posted Apr 24, 07 2:30 PM CDT in US Science & Health Pundits    Editor's Choice

(Newser) – The drug-trafficking trial of a Virginia pain specialist demonstrates the slippery slope between treating chronic conditions and enabling addicts. Dr. William Hurwitz's jury heard the story of a patient with deblitating migraines who had been treated with anxiety medication that actually caused headaches—by another doctor who happened to be an expert  witness for the prosecution.

Not until she went to Hurwitz, who  prescribed high-dose opioids, was she able to function again. Many doctors are reluctant to prescribe the highest doses of opioids like OxyContin because they're open to prosecution if they're tricked by addicts, as Hurwitz admits he was. "I felt that I had a duty to the patients," he said.

Source New York Times

Gavel   (Getty Images)
Gavel   (Archive Photos)
Gavel   (Getty Images)
Gavel   (Getty Images)
Investigators say addicts mash the OxyContin pills to snort the powder or turn the drug into liquid form so that it can injected intravenously.   (KRT Photos)
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health   drugs   medicine   addiction   narcotics   OxyContin   chronic pain   opioids



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