Drug War Update
Drug WarRant has the uplifting story of a former cop who is about to finish a 3,100 mile horse ride across the country to promote the legalization of marijuana. [news article is here]
On the other hand, this post , about a phyisican in South Carolina who is a now a convicted felon facing 100 years in prison for prescribing opiates as pain medication to her patients with chronic, severe pain, is very depressing.
Dr. Deborah Bordeaux used to be a pain management specialist. Now she's a convicted felon facing a 100-year prison sentence as a drug dealer. Bordeaux was arrested when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and South Carolina law enforcement raided the Myrtle Beach clinic where she once prescribed opioids to severely ill patients... And there are more, a growing number of physicians indicted and sometimes convicted of being drug traffickers but who say they were only doing what was best for patients.
Go visit the newly formed Pain Relief Network, an organization that sticks up for the rights of patients in pain and get acquainted with the issues. Volunteer time or money. The DEA is going after more doctors every day.
The DEA reports that 410 doctors were prosecuted in 2002, representing an 800% increase in physician prosecutions over the last three years. American citizens, as a result, by the thousands are being forced into suicide by untreated pain.
The Drug War Chronicle reports on this latest case:
Retired McLean, Virginia, pain specialist Dr. William Hurwitz was arrested Wednesday morning and sits in jail pending a Monday bail hearing after being indicted on federal charges related to his use of high doses of opioid pain relievers in the course of his medical practice. A 49-count indictment charges the nationally known specialist with drug trafficking resulting in death and serious injury, engaging in a criminal enterprise, conspiracy and health care fraud. The most serious charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
This is a new feature on Drug War Rant that we really like:
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