Posts Tagged With: hurwitz

I am very glad to see physicians, who have themselves been savaged by the government, publishing their stories. Consider Dr. Jackson’s article, Conviction without a Crime, to be a companion piece to Dr. Rottschaefer’s article discussed in the previous item here, The Criminal Criminal Justice System. Together these two articles will give the reader a good sense, I think, of the utter breakdown of professional ethics, common sense, and fairness in any case involving controlled substances.

There are so many who need opioid pain medications and can not get them… These people have their lives destroyed every day as they drag themselves from doctor to doctor being lied to, verbally and sometimes physically abused, forced into unnecessary rounds of expensive testing… They are sneered at by pharmacists, called addicts by doctors, drug tested, called “frequent-flyers” and other derogatory names by emergency room nurses and doctors, denied reimbursement…

I spoke to Billy’s wife briefly, recently, and am very happy to be able to report that Dr. Hurwitz is no longer in federal prison. He is currently in a half-way house in D.C. and will be transitioning to house arrest as part of his parole and probation requirements… He is in a sort of “titration to house arrest” best I understand it. Meaning, he is starting to get overnight visits with his family – YEA! – and more and more of that till he sort of “stabilizes” on a regimen of maintenance house arrest. (Is house arrest a substitution therapy for …

Article by Dr. DeLuca regarding Jacob Sullum\’s comments about a recent SAMHSA analysis showing low addiction rates for most substances of abuse, and also discusses Hurwitz\’ excellent 2005 analysis of Government data, the peer reviewed

A collection of cartoons, images, poems and a story, by or about members of the Pain Relief Network, about the war on doctors and the pain crisis in America.

Blog post featuring link to Associated Press video of Siobhan Reynolds talking about the life and death of her husband Sean Greenwood in 2007. Footage is part of AP’s ‘World of Pain’ package released Aug 2007. This entry also provides links to 3 other videos featuring the PRN. 1: Siobhan, Ronan, Dr. Coles, Dr. Siegle on Mike and Juliet show (Fox); 2: James Fernandez, veteran, talks about his military career and life severely limited by undertreated chronic pain; and 3: The Chilling Effect – documentary by S. Reynolds about her family, and the family of Richard and Linda Paey.

Blog post about phone conversation with incarcerated Dr. William Hurwitz about recent prescription drug propaganda, and about a planned government appeal of his sentence, in which case the Hurwitz Defense would appeal the conviction.

Blog post of referring to John Tierney’s blog post: ‘Dr. Hurwitz’ Mysterious Motive.’ Ms. Baluss discusses prosecution tactics in the first trial, and rebuts accusations that Dr. Hurwitz was enriching himself as a venal physician.

Siobhan Reynolds, PRN, on the re-conviction of Dr. Hurwitz on federal drug-trafficking charges: “Each time [a war on docs prosecution comes to trial] the lawyers believe that they will be the ones to try the case correctly [within the context of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)], and so do not make the Constitutional challenges that need to be made. The CSA reverses the [usual] presumptions [of innocence] and in essence induces physicians to prescribe drugs that are only nominally legal. After they have done the deed, the Department of Justice gets to come in, with all the force and resources …

“[Hurwitz] crossed the line from a healer to a dealer,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Rossi told the jury in closing arguments April 18. Defense lawyers presented testimony from 10 former patients of Hurwitz. The defense portrayed him as a medical pioneer, a caring and courageous doctor who just wanted to help people in unbearable pain.

More observations from Hurwitz retrial watcher Mary Baluss, Esp. Here Mary describes in greater detail the discussion between judge and prosecutors immediately after the Verdict was rendered by the jury.

Blog post regarding expected Hurwitz verdict. Links provided to review TierneyLab and War on Docs/Pain Crisis coverage of the retrial.

Excerpt from Mary Baluss, courtroom observer: “They were given the standard “good faith” instruction which I don’t like since it talks about the honest exercise of “best” professional judgment. But they were also clearly and carefully instructed about the difference between malpractice and drug distribution. They also got the “willful blindness” (ostrich) instruction and were told that it is possible to determine the requisite scienter (knowingly, wilfully) from that.”

No Relief in Sight (full text plus Related References) – by Jacob Sullum, Senior Editor of Reason Magazine, 1997. Source. ‘Brief Note’ added: 2009-07-14. **Brief Note:** A true classic in the annals of the pain crisis in America. This article, as much as any other one thing I can think of, altered my life from practicing physician to practicing pain relief advocate. I am also a big fan of Mr. Sullum’s 2004 book, *Saying Yes: In Defense of Drug Use*. ..alex… “Torture, despair, agony, and …

The Challenge of Prescription Drug Misuse: A Review and Commentary (Introduction and link to full text) – William Hurwitz, M.D.; Pain Medicine; 6(2); 152-161; March 2005.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2005.05024.x [Citation]

INTRODUCTION, REFERENCES, and FOOTNOOTES (Full text here)

   Dr. William Hurwitz
This article presents an analysis of the patterns of illicit use of prescription pain relievers, of the likely structure of the illicit market, and of the complexity of pain management. It suggests that a federal enforcement policy focused on physicians …

Dr. William Hurwitz concludes an October 2006 letter sent to friends and colleagues to raise money for his defense: “It has been over 20 years since Dr. Portenoy put the issue of opioid treatment of chronic pain on the professional and social agenda. Yet the struggle to set this treatment on a secure legal and social foundation is far from over. Patients continue to suffer, not only from unrelieved pain, but from the suspicion and neglect of a frightened medical community. My case presents an opportunity to establish humane boundaries for pain practice and to expose the …

‘Good Faith’ at Issue in Pain Doctor’s [Hurwitz] Appeal (full text) Larry O’Dell, Associated Press Writer; Richmond Times-Dispatch; 2006-03-17. Posted: 2006-03-20. Comment (DeLuca): This Resource Is an example of, I am sorry to say typical, Trash Journalism – in this case regarding U.S. v Hurwitz. ‘Journalist’ O’Dell takes pains to specifically recount State charges against Dr. Hurwitz without making clear that Virginia ultimately exonerated him BEFORE the Fed brought the case for which Hurwitz is currently serving 25 years (life). See also: Brief of Appellant William Eliot Hurwitz (PDF) – Appeal from the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia; Robbins, …