Guidelines for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain...VERY IMPORTANT!!

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Sat Dec 8 15:40:57 2001


[] Model Guidelines for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain...These guidelines were adopted on May 2, 1998 by The Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc.

http://www.medsch.wisc.edu/painpolicy/domestic/model.htm

Section I: Preamble

The (name of board) recognizes that principles of quality medical practice dictate that the people of the State of (name of state) have access to appropriate and effective pain relief. The appropriate application of up-to-date knowledge and treatment modalities can serve to improve the quality of life for those patients who suffer from pain - as well as to reduce the morbidity and costs associated with untreated or inappropriately treated pain. The Board encourages physicians to view effective pain management as a part of quality medical practice for all patients with pain, acute or chronic, and it is especially important for patients who experience pain as a result of terminal illness. All physicians should become knowledgeable about effective methods of pain treatment as well as statutory requirements for prescribing controlled substances.

Inadequate pain control may result from physicians' lack of knowledge about pain management or an inadequate understanding of addiction. Fears of investigation or sanction by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies may also result in inappropriate or inadequate treatment of chronic pain patients. Accordingly, these guidelines have been developed to clarify the Board's position on pain control, specifically as related to the use of controlled substances, to alleviate physician uncertainty and to encourage better pain management.

The Board recognizes that controlled substances, including opioid analgesics, may be essential in the treatment of acute pain due to trauma or surgery and chronic pain, whether due to cancer or non-cancer origins. Physicians are referred to the U.S. Agency for Health Care and Research Clinical Practice Guidelines for a sound approach to the management of acute and cancer-related pain.

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There is MUCH MORE to read about these guidelines at the above website!! If your doctor is not prescribing adequate pain medication for your adhesion pain, consider printing out this information and giving your doctor a copy of it.


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