First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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Nov 18th, 2014Someone from Cypress, TX writes:
People will get the medicine illegally regardless of regulations that they put on the drugs. I am in cronic pain and require it to perform daily tasks. This is illegal and has not been passed by congress. DEA has too much control over regulations. It is not a democracy but a dictatorship. -
Nov 18th, 2014Someone from Harvey, IL writes:
After reading all the material below it saddens me as an American. The DEA new change with Hydrocodone has affected so many Patients, Distributors, Manufactures, Retailers & Doctors. The DEA is fully aware that a drug addict will do what ever it takes to get high no matter what the drug is, they think by limiting or rescheduling hydrocodone is going to reduce or eliminate someone from overdosing they should really think again, abusers will find anything to get high. I truly believe these people with chronic pain are just trying to live a quality life which you took away from them. This will make matter worst for the true chronic patients. I am not a chronic pain patient but I can truly feel all of your pain in these letters. I hope that the DEA will see how many Americans are be turned away in order for them to live the quality of life. I pray they change it back since there are so many software programs monitoring this stuff anyway. Each Pharmacy knows their customers especially after many years of doing business with them. May God Bless you All.REPORT COMMENTS
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Nov 18th, 2014Someone from Priest River, ID writes:
This is a new development! This is a big move on the part of Minor & James Clinic; they are kicking all pain patience out and suggesting we go to a Pain Clinic. I was seeing my Rheumatologist from early 90's until he retired 3 years ago. Dr Scott Pollock was a great Dr., we tried everything before he put me on a narcotic drugs. He diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. During this time I was involved with the U of W pain study for over a year. The list of things to do to help with pain that are listed in any Pain Clinic was tried by me; they did not help. When my doctor retired he gave me 3 choices for Dr's and I chose one (will not name names yet). The new Dr didn't bother to read my history and noted that I was on pain medication. If the new Dr. read my notes he would not have wondered if I was a drug chaser or whatever they call people with addictions. I had to prove myself all over again with him. in 2001 we moved away from Seattle to Northern Idaho, I found that no Dr. wanted to take a "Pain" patient in Northern Idaho! It was so hard for me to even get a GP to care for me; it was shocking. I stayed with Minor & James but started to get worried about why Dr's would not help people in chronic pain. I had no choice but to stay with my Clinic in Seattle. I had to go quarterly and that was 800 miles round trip and the cost of gas. This second Dr. did follow Dr. Pollock?s plan I was on and it was working well. I stayed on the same dose of pain medication for all those years. Three months ago when I saw this Dr. he told me he was going to Overlake Hospital, I asked if I could see him there and he said that Overlake did not take Pain patient. I don't know if this is true but I do know that he left in order to get rid of pain patients that he inherited when Dr. Pollock retired. So I had to see a 3rd Dr., he gave me the name of another Rheumatologist and I saw her last Friday Nov. 7th. This Dr. quickly told me she would not prescribe my medicine and I would have to leave Minor & James Clinic. I then understood that Minor & James were kicking all pain patience out of their clinic. Adding the Drs remark about Overlake Clinic not accepting pain patience it suddenly occurred to me that all the clinics around the US were probably going to do the same thing. Think about this, don?t you see a large number of ?Pain Clinics? going up everywhere? Our government is putting so much pressure on Dr's now whole clinics are throwing us out and we have nowhere to go except those pain clinics After studying what these clinics are all about I found that there philosophy is to get you off pain meds. If you haven?t already done so read the list of things they think we should do. I will be shocked if they continue my pain medications; no doctor has an alternative. They recommend things like exercise, good diet, cognitive thinking, biofeedback and a shrink! None of those things take away pain and it is a general statement used because agaREPORT COMMENTS
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Nov 18th, 2014Someone from Kissimmee, FL writes:
Hi I am writing on behalf of my mother who has a fracquet in her spine,spondylitis and disc herniation. We have never had problems with being stigmatized pain seekers. Since the inception of this bill my mother's ablity to do modest routine chores has diminished two fold. Now everday dignifying abilities. Like dressing and moving around in the supermarket has been detrimentaly reduced. please repel this because it will create more health issues with the reduced activity. It pains me to see my mom in this state please correct or redefine this process in a way that doesn't har patients.REPORT COMMENTS
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Nov 18th, 2014Someone from Girard, OH signed.
Nov 17th, 2014Someone from Ponchatoula, LA signed.
Nov 17th, 2014Someone from Plainview, TX writes:
REPEAL the DEA ruling on HCPs! This is hurting more people than it's helping. Drug seekers/abusers will FIND a way to continue. Dealers will just raise the price a bit more. Patients WILL find ways too (heroin or blackmarket HCPs) and then these gov't agency will have more blood on their hands, but then all they do is deny, deny, deny. NFL physicians have been sued because of illegal activity with HCPs, the players who sued knew it was illegal too, punish them. NOT patients with legally confirmed, pathology that causes pain and is something they will have to live with the rest of their lives; which will be shortened because they wont have available, legal, relief). It will affect quality of life, morale, family, they will withdraw from friends and society altogether because of the pain. Many will commit suicide just to not have to deal with their debilitating pain. The DEA, HHS, FDA should neither interfere nor dictate patient care. That's why we have Medical Boards. Take care of the illegal activity instead of interjecting your "my way or the highway" attitudes into people's lives and medical treatment. REPEAL this ruling. Help chronic pain patients live a productive life because as of now doctors have QUIT prescribing any HCPs due to fear of prosecution from the DEA. Legitimate patients are being harmed as we speak because these gov't agencies are failing in there intended purpose and taking it out on innocent people by make asinine decisions they have no business in making. Yes, if illegal activity is occurring, more power to you, but because patients want relief or people are killing themselves by MIXING other drugs with HCPs is not reason enough to interfere with patient nor their doctors. IF people want to harm themselves, WHO THE HELL are you to get in the way. The only reason I see for doing that is because the failures that have occurred with the "war on drugs", DEA can't win it so they target the hundreds of millions of legitimate pain patients and the doctors who CAN treat them but drs fear losing what they've worked so hard for. When was the last time, if ever, anyone at the DEA, HHS or FDA seen and treated a patient? Do you know what living with chronic pain feels like? Do your intended jobs, and realize when you've failed, but leave US alone. REPEAL, REPEAL, REPEAL this absurd ruling handed down by these incompetent agencies. My prayer is that someone capable of guiding us through a class action lawsuit will read these petition comments and make a Public Service Announcement available for all to see ( not on some govt website that only receives 573 comments and/or letters.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Miami Beach, FL writes:
How tragic it must be for doctors to watch their long standing patients suffer in pain and frustration while their hands are tied - incredibly inhumane. Get out of the WAY, DEA. Help the doctors uphold their oath of DO NO HARM!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Amarillo, TX writes:
Repeal FDA/DEA rules on HCP's This is a petition asking specifically to REPEAL, please go sign that one too. It's on this website too. PLEASE!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Vancouver, WA signed.
Nov 17th, 2014Someone from Phoenix, AZ writes:
Since the DEA has decided to ruin what functional capacity I had, maybe they'd like to wake up tomorrow in my shoes. But before that, let's drug test them, and no "fixes in," to have them show, "clean." On top of that, repeated lie detector tests-weekly, done by an independent,non-corruptable company. Impossible. From what I understand, the DEA is involved in what fuels the economy-heroin. Yes, I suggest watching>> Mike Ruppert on 911REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Smyrna, GA signed.
Nov 17th, 2014Someone from Maysville, NC signed.
Nov 17th, 2014Someone from Maysville, NC writes:
I have been seeing a pain management physician for around 3 years now. In this time frame I have been receiving good care and the pain level has been mitigated well with hydrocodone as of this new DEA infringement on my right to live a full semi-pain free life! This statue will add new stress levels on top of my existing pain tolerance, that will be counter productetive to my life & The future well-being of my all around helth...REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Sellersburg, IN writes:
My husband is a pain management physician that practices in Southern Indiana and Louisville, KY. He is presently being targeted by the DEA. He is one of the few physicians that practice within practical and ethical guidelines while taking care of patients that have no other place to go. He is usually their last effort for seeking relief after they have been shuffled through all the physicians, procedures and operations. He cares for chronic pain patients and the DEA doesn't seem to understand what chronic means or have any idea what the life is for a pain patient on a daily basis. Their tactics are absurd. I have to say the the medical students are not taught to scrutinize pain medication. Fear of losing your license to practice medicine along with fear of going to jail with charges of (unwarranted) manslaughter along with conspiracy to deal drugs is the problem.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Manchester, MD writes:
Its a sad day when people with chronic illnesses or pain can't receive the care anx medications to obtain relief. After 14 years of being on the same dosage one of mine was decreased. I suffer from RLS as well as many other issues and have bern suicidal mant times until I was treated correctly. Now my sx breakthrough constantly and I have to live like this looking like a freak jerking and twitching. DEAR GOD, DON'T YOU HAVE A CONSCIOUS. NO MERCY FOR US.I CRY DAILY FROM THIS AND I PRAY THAT NONE OF YOU ENDURE THIS PAIN, ALTHOUGH IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES SO BE IT. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOULS..REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Walnut Grove, MS signed.
Nov 17th, 2014Someone from San Marcos, CA writes:
i think elderly patients that have taken been prescribed same drug for many years by same Doctor, should not be told to visit monthly in order to get a simple refilll, especially if drug is not pain opiate. The Doctor should know the patient well enough by now to refill without fear, but cut patient's off unless they show up for a medicare paid visit. Warning "do not stop taking without Doctor's advice" means nothing? Seniors with no record or history of substance abuse abuse should be spared the extra hassle for a damn Soma.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 17th, 2014Someone from Albuquerque, NM signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Des Moines, IA writes:
Ok. I don't understand. Why are they NOW doing what they should've been doing all along? This especially should've been done BEFORE the rescheduling the drug. Seems backwards to me, but then it is the DEA (DO EVERYTHING A##BACKWARDS). Go figure.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from New Port Richey, FL writes:
I AM GOING TO SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME YOU IF YOU WANT TO SMOKE POT? THINK THAT WILL BE THE UTOPIA OF YOUR PROBLEMS! PACK UP AND MOVE TO CA. THE FEW OTHER STATES THAT LET IT TAKE PLACE.LOOK AT THEIR JAILS, IT NOT THE ANSWER . SO SICK OF HEARING THE SO CALL GOOD that POT DOES FOR PEOPLE, OH THEY WONT HARM A FLY, YA LET THEM DRIVE AND KILL ONE OF US FIGHTING FOR OUR MEDS. HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE A ID AND NOT A DMV AND A PERSON TO DRIVE YOU TO YOUR DR. THEIR LOT OF PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA SIGNING THIS PETITION .THE PROBLEM IS THEIR IS NO ANSWER TILL FDA CALLS A MEETING WITH ALL THESE STATES ONE BY ONE. I PREDICT MORE SUCIDES, MORE EMS ROOM IN HOSPITALS BEING PACKED WITH PEOPLE ,WHO STILL DONT KNOW HOW TO WEEN OUR SELF OFF OF THIS BECAUSE THE DR. AND THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANYS AND FDA MADE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND NOW DONT WANT TO BE LIEABLE IF SOMEONE DIES.DO NO HARM IS PART OF THEIR CREED WHEN THEY BECOME A MD. WE LIVE IN A THRID WORLD COUNTY WEATHER WE WANT TO BELEAVE IT OR NOT. I DONE. GENITIC TESTING IS THE ANSWER GOOGLE IT, FOX NEWS DID A REPORT ON THIS ISSUE THE SWAB OF THE MOUTH THEY CAN GET 99.99 EXACT DRUG,THAT IS EFFECTIVE FOR YOUR BODY. MOST OF USE ARE TAKING THE WRONG MEDS BUT THEY ALL HAD TO POP OPEN A NEW DRUG STORE ON EVERY CORNER TO MALE THEIR MONEY IN THE PHARMACY AS FAST AS THEY COULD. WHEN THE RATTLESNAKES WERE DOING WRONG. SOONER OR LATER THEIR WILL BE BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS FOR ALL THE WRONG THEY DID AND HARM TO PEOPLE.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Plainview, TX writes:
DEA performs NFL painkiller sweep This Story is on MSN.com right now!!! 11/16/2014 10:31 pm CST.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Dayville, CT signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Reading, PA signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Sarasota, FL writes:
Do not lump me in with drug seeking junkies because of my absolute need for strong pain meds. For over 20 years I have suffered but only in the past few years I have been belittled, called a drug seeker & have with zero logical reason have had to suffer the agony of forced detox. I would love to give these med watchdogs the pain I live with for just 5 seconds & they would understand but that is fantasy. Instead they point fingers & beat their chests about the great job they are doing to lower opioid use in Florida or whatever self righteous state those suffering on a minute by minute basis live in, especially the ones that still condemn marijuana which helps some of us tremendously.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Halifax, MA writes:
I am a chronic pain patient caught in this nightmare. I have severe (bone on bone) arthritis in both knees an the pain is exacerbated by long term Fibromyalgia. I used to be a full time carpenter and then had my own landscaping / gardening company. Now I hardly leave my home because I can barely walk because of the pain. And all because the law makers want to protect the drug addicts from overdosing themselves??? The addicts will continue to get their drugs from the streets....as they always have. These laws will only affect the people who already abide by them....meaning the people who are suffering with legitimate, documented pain!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Pompano Beach, FL writes:
Four decades a chronic pain patient - I've posted my story so many times - here's one back in 2013 directed to AG Bondi's lies back then - this week I will have to video my 30 year pharmacy Walgreen's to document telling me they CAN'T/WON'T fill my "MEDICALLY NECESSARY" prescriptions. I don't care who knows my name - I have nothing to hide. My medical history has been with the government through SSD since the late 70's and I haven't stopped seeing doctors since 1970. Making a public statement - due to government's Federal and state's Drug Diversion actions, I am currently suffering severe withdrawals because my medications have been "diverted". I'm on Day 5 so like so many other who have legitimate health conditions & suffer daily severe chronic pain have been ignored in this criminal process and tortious interference by the DOJ, DEA, FDA, NIDA AHCA FDLE, the CSA, ARCOS, NABP, Florida's Governor Rick Scott; and to quote Florida?s own Attorney General who failed in accomplishing this statement: ?we must still ensure that people legitimately suffering from chronic pain, crippling anxiety or other debilitating illnesses, can get the relief they need. We are challenged, therefore, to facilitate greater access to pain-relieving medicines, while simultaneously expanding the capacity to monitor and dispense these potent pain-relievers under sound medical supervision.? By Florida?s State Attorney, Pam Bondi, April 2, 2012 re: PDMP. There are NO medicines available to chronic pain sufferers and they allowed us to be harmed as well as all the law-abiding physicians who try to help them live life as best they can. The government/pharmacies have decided to make it so difficult; causing pharmacies to refuse "legitimate" prescribed C-II pain medications to even long-term members. This includes people just out of surgery, in need of surgery or injured, the elderly who have severe pain issues, and so many like me who are actually ?statistics for the USA ? chronic back pain, diabetes, auto accidents, diseases that cause pain like cancer. As medically documented, I now have INCREASED pain due to sudden withdrawal from my pain medication which I have been on over 40 years. I know I?m addicted but in my case, it is ?MEDICALLY NECESSARY?. Patients like me don?t CHOOSE to take pain meds ? in fact, we?d give anything to Signing Change.org & researching/contacting lawyers to file a class action suit against all agencies and pharmacies for tortious interference with my health & well-being, my civil rights, undue pain & suffering, etc., discrimination, etc. WHO'S ON BOARD? See Change.org - very sad stories (mothers, brothers, sisters, friends are suffering terribly right now. Facebook by me: 6/1/2013 9:10 PMREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Oologah, OK signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Pompano Beach, FL signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Salt Lake City, UT signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Amarillo, TX writes:
Read it and Weep. Folks, We are fighting a losing battle. Read the following carefully and keep your eyes to the Federal Registry starting NOW. I had no idea this thing existed, probably because I was too busy living paycheck to paycheck. The DEA received 573 comments on the proposed rule to reschedule HCPs. Fifty-two percent (52%) (298 comments) supported, or supported with qualification, controlling HCPs in schedule II of the CSA. Forty-one percent (41%) (235 comments) opposed rescheduling HCPs into schedule II. Seven percent (7%) (40 comments) did not take a definitive position regarding rescheduling. The DEA received two comments requesting that the DEA reopen the period for public comment. One of the commenters specifically requested that the comment period be reopened for a minimum of 180 days. The stated justification of one of the commenters was that ?[t]he current period is utterly inadequate to large segments of the population who have had no meaningful notice, have extremely limited internet access in small time periods through use of computers at public libraries and are particularly at risk from harm if this rule is adopted.? DEA response: The Administrative Procedure Act does not set a minimum length of time for public comment The DEA published in the Federal Register the NPRM proposing to reschedule HCPs into schedule II of the CSA on February 27, 2014. DEA response: The Administrative Procedure Act does not set a minimum length of time for public comment. 21 U.S.C. 553; Phillips Petroleum Co. v. U.S. E.P.A., 803 F.2d 545, 558-59 (10th Cir. 1986) (upholding the EPA's refusal to extend the 45-day comment period on an NPRM, noting that courts have uniformly upheld comment periods of 45 days or less) (internal citations omitted). However, both Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 provide that agencies should afford the public a comment period of at least 60 days. Based on the following considerations, the DEA declines to reopen the period for additional public comment.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Tempe, AZ signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Philadelphia, PA signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Clarksville, PA signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Clarksville, PA signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Clarksville, PA signed.
Nov 16th, 2014Someone from Tampa, FL writes:
I suffer from Lupus MS Sciatica chronic pain. As a human being I also relay on my pain medicine to function my daily life shower cook clean if I don't have my pain medicine I flare my chest angina pains attacks me just alone lupus attacks my own body . I depend on my medicine to help me instead of suffering from the madness of pain .REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Merritt Island, FL writes:
As a long term sufferer of chronic, dibilitating pain, i can attest to the wrongs that are done in the health care system... from nurses to doctors to pharmacists and beyond. we are treated as second class citizens, or worse, as drug addicts and criminals. this MUST stop! i suffer from major depressive disorder, in part due to the treatment, or lack there of that i receive as a chronic pain patient. I am not receiving adequate relief and when i request it, i am faced with the possibility of not receiving ANY medication at all because i dare to ask for more effective medicine. What do we have to do? I feel like if i lay down in the street that i would finally get the treatment i need, altho probably not in the way i wish it to be. Things need to change. this is why i am signing this petitionREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 16th, 2014Someone from Ithaca, NY writes:
I think the way society, and physcians treat dibilitating and chronic diseases should start taking notice of how they alienate so many people with their uncaring attitudes is breaking the Hippocratic Oath they take to become doctors, Change is needed now!REPORT COMMENTS
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