BY
NORMAN J CLEMENT RPH., DDS, NORMAN L.CLEMENT PHARM-TECH, MALACHI F. MACKANDAL PHARMD, BELINDA BROWN-PARKER, IN THE SPIRIT OF JOSEPH SOLVO ESQ., IN THE SPIRIT OF REV. C.T. VIVIAN, JELANI ZIMBABWE CLEMENT, BS., MBA., IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HON. PATRICE LUMUMBA, IN THE SPIRIT OF ERLIN CLEMENT SR., WALTER F. WRENN III., MD., JULIE KILLINGWORTH, WILLIE GUINYARD BS., JOSEPH WEBSTER MD., MBA, BEVERLY C. PRINCE MD., FACS., RICHARD KAUL, MD., LEROY BAYLOR, JAY K. JOSHI MD., MBA, ADRIENNE EDMUNDSON, ESTER HYATT PH.D., WALTER L. SMITH BS., IN THE SPIRIT OF BRAHM FISHER ESQ., MICHELE ALEXANDER MD., CUDJOE WILDING BS, MARTIN NDJOU, BS., RPH., IN THE SPIRIT OF DEBRA LYNN SHEPHERD, BERES E. MUSCHETT, STRATEGIC ADVISORS
THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND PATIENTS AND DOCTORS SUFFERED DEATH
FROM:
Robert Twillman, Ph.D., FAPM
Executive Director
American Academy of Pain Management
TO:
The Honorable Fred Upton
Chairman
House Energy and Commerce Committee United States House of Representatives Washington, DC
OCTOBER 15, 2015: WARNING LETTER TO CHAIRMAN HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Dear Chairman Upton:
I am writing to you today on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Management (the Academy) to express our concerns about an effort underway by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a guideline for prescribing opioid analgesics to treat pain.
“…..Experience with similar clinical practice guidelines has shown that many clinicians treat them as rules, not as guidelines and that a substantial portion of primary care providers (the stated targets of this guideline) will simply opt to stop prescribing opioids to their patients with chronic pain. What will these people do to address their pain? (1)
In light of the concerns we have detailed here, we respectfully request that your committee looks into CDC’s actions with respect to this guideline development process. We think that questions need to be asked and answered, with respect to:
The poor-quality evidence underlying these “strongly recommended” “evidence-based” guidelines; the process of selecting experts to participate in the various groups involved in developing these guidelines; potential sources of undisclosed bias from a variety of sources;
The implications of CDC issuing a clinical practice guideline developed without the benefit of appropriate peer review, that could limit access to pain medications for people who benefit from them; and the reasoning behind the lack of transparency and opportunity for comment from the public found in this process. (1)
exposing the unscientific
Jeffrey A. Singer MD discusses his blog post, “Hulu’s “Dopesick” Revives a False Narrative and Pain Patients May Suffer,” on the Heartland Institute’s podcast
JEFF A. SINGER MD., CATO INSTITUTE:
“People don’t realize what pain patients are going thru! They are huge victims of the opioid crisis and are being punished and treated like criminals and so are the doctors that want to help but are being told what and how much they can prescribe by politicians!
They are also afraid of losing their license if they prescribe any pain meds. It’s a huge injustice. Just to be clear I am talking about cancer patients, trauma patients, and chronic pain patients with genetic syndromes that they were born with and then there’s the depression because they truly suffer due to all these laws.”
JEFF A. SINGER, MD., CATO INSTITUTE:
“YOU CAN’T LEGISLATE MEDICAL SCIENCE”
What they are doing is inexcusable!!!!!!!
FOLLOW THE SCIENCE OF OPIOIDS
“Follow the science” is good advice for lawmakers, but in so many contexts where dominant scientific views change, it should mean lawmakers intervene less often.” Jeff Singer explains.
CONGRESS MUST CLEAN UP THIS MESS
FOR NOW, YOU ARE WITHIN
THE NORMS
REFERENCE:
1).
