Few physicians actually tried or sanctioned
for improperly prescribing pain medications
Study suggests physician concerns over widely publicized prosecutions are disproportionate to actual numbers of legal and regulatory actions
September 9, 2008
Some doctors under treat pain partially out of an unrealistic fear of legal repercussions, causing many chronic-pain patients to continue to suffer even though effective pain medications may be available to help them.
A new study in the September 9 issue of Pain Medicine shows that between 1998 and 2006, only a tiny number of U.S. doctors actually appear to have been prosecuted or administratively sanctioned for improperly prescribing powerful pain medications.
Over this eight year span, best-available data and records indicate that only about one in 1,000 practicing physicians was tried or sanctioned for offenses of this type.
The study analyzes the numbers and types of cases and physicians involved, criminal and administrative charges brought, and case outcomes and sanctions. It also examines the characteristics of the small number of physicians who have been involved in such cases, including medical specialty, age and medical school.
The study was authored by nine individuals associated with the Balanced Pain Policy Initiative, an undertaking of the Center for Practical Bioethics, the National Association of Attorneys General, and the Federation of State Medical Boards.
For a free abstract of the study, click here.
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