And here we go.....

[mmglobal]

AJ, thanks for the post... I agree with your assessment that these types of occurrances and issues will (and already has) made getting appropriate pain management much more difficult to get.

Sadly, none of this is black and white. Under the best of circumstances, the doctors will (in some cases) withhold meds from people who really need them and they will freely prescribe them to those who should not have them. I have seen spineys who severely abuse their meds, or get prescriptions only to sell their meds. I have experienced pretty amazing problems in getting appropriate pain management for myself and have known many spineys who have been abused by the system and not given appropriate pain management.

The pendulum swings and years ago they were talking about not giving appropriate pain management as malpractice. In recent years, it has been swinging the other way.

Sadly, I believe the insurance industry is complicit in this as they really like not having to pay for pain management.

Take care and thanks again for posting the article. I don't believe that this is 'not spine related'. I hope you don't mind that I'm moving this to the main forum.

Mark