University of Toronto Kicks Purdue Pharma out of Pain Class

Medical students at the University of Toronto were provided a book on managing chronic pain that was funded and copyrighted by the maker of the highly addictive narcotic, OxyContin - Purdue Pharma

The physicians who brought the matter forward are both wih the St. Michael's Hospital; a University of Toronto teaching hospital. Photo courtesy: nesthesia.utoronto.ca

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - The drug industry's perceived role in a pain management course for medical students at the the University of Toronto, has led to a complaint, and a revamp in the school's pain management course curriculum.

Marianne Skolek

The complaint led to a recent informal inquiry. A student brought the matter forward, along with two physicians in the faculty of medicine at the University of Toronto.

The complaint centers around students who say they were provided a book on chronic pain management that was funded and copyrighted by the maker of the prescription painkiller OxyContin -- Purdue Pharma.

The CBC reports that a guest lecturer who was not paid, had ties to Purdue Pharma, and is who brought the 371-page book into the university's Center for the Study of Pain, which conducted the pain class. The lecturer who was also a co-author of the book, distributed copies to anyone who would take them, the university's Dean of Dentistry; Dr. David Mock, explained.

The two doctors behind the development are Dr. Rick Glazier, whose 18-year old son died last year from an accidental OxyContin overdose; and Dr. Philip Berger.

Both physicians are with St. Michael's Hospital, one of the University of Toronto's teaching hospitals. They came forward after a medical student approached them, explaining a serious concern about the pharma industry-sponsored book that the lecturer brought to the pain center.

In a report by Inquiry head Lorraine Ferris, which was obtained by The Canadian Press, she states "time is of the essence" in revising the pain curriculum, a 20-hour course jointly taught to medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing students. A revised program should include a delivery of balanced information by experts in several fields, including pharmacology and painkiller addiction, Ferris said in her report.

"As part of their discussions, faculty will need to address important, topical and often sensitive issues regarding opioids, including, for example, opioid addiction, improper opioid prescribing, at-risk communities, illicit sales and drug diversion, 'double-doctoring' and recreational sharing and use of opioids."

Berger said he is pleased with Ferris's report, which "has met our concerns head-on."

"She's raised very serious issues of conflict of interest and made what I think is an absolutely correct statement that not only the academic community but the public more generally would find making a copyrighted and owned drug-company textbook available to students objectionable, regardless of how its assessed quality is," he said.

"To me, and I think quite correctly, she's called for a higher standard in a public policy area of a very high profile and of interest to both government and the public. I think it's fair to say that the implementation of Professor Ferris's recommendations will make the public safer and likely will save lives."

In what reports regarded as bluntly worded statements, it was suggested by Ferris that curriculum development and accountability for the pain course be relinquished to the control of the Centre for the Study of Pain; the element of the school charged with conducting pain research while helping educate doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists.

The CBC reported that the Centre for Interprofessional Education, which takes a multi-disciplinary approach to developing the skills of health professionals, will now take over curriculum and accountability. Ferris also recommended that only University of Toronto faculty members teach the pain course.

A study published last year showed prescription rates for opioids, including OxyContin, soaring in Ontario over the last two decades, as did the number of deaths linked to the drug.

The University saw the matter as a "conflict of issue" relating to Purdue Pharma's delivery of a course textbook that was both funded and copyrighted by the criminally convicted pharmaceutical company; they took appropriate action to bar them from the pain classes -- and in the opinion of many activists, they are to be commended.

I have no doubt that Purdue Pharma will only move on to other U.S. and Canadian universities and use their funded and copyrighted textbooks -- because they have "entitlement" issues. Most criminals feel they are entitled and their motives are never legal, ethical or moral -- that's what makes them criminals.

Maybe Purdue Pharma should use the book "Mein Kampf" written by Hitler to accompany their pain book. Hitler had stated that the the destruction of the weak and sick is far more humane than their protection. He saw a purpose in destroying "the weak" in order to provide the proper space and purity for the strong. "The strong" seems to apply to a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company responsible for a Holocaust of death and addiction throughout the U.S. and Canada in their criminal marketing of OxyContin as less addictive, does it not?

Source: U of T pain class bars drug-maker influence - cbc.ca

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Salem-News.com Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's who pled guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 7-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.

oxydeaths.com/news_chilling.htm
nytimes.com/2007/05/10/business/11drug-web.html?
blog.nj.com/njv_bob_braun/2007/07/sometimes_only_justice_can_rel.html
judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=2905&wit_id=6612
You can send Marianne an email at: mskolek@aol.com
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