University of California, Davis Launches a Missile in the Opioid Prescribing Epidemic in the U.S. and Canada

Interesting point is that the American Pain Foundation is also under U.S. Senate investigation - the same American Pain Foundation that Dr. Fishman had served as President and Chair on its Board of Directors while employed by the UC Davis Within days of the announcement of the Senate investigating the American Pain Foundation - they closed their doors. Fishman also acknowledged in his book -- "This book is sponsored by a consortium of organizations with a common interest in promoting safe and effective pain management including" (list follows with one being Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin who admitted they criminally marketed their drug as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians}.

In January 2012, a Myrtle Beach, SC physician named Stephen G. Gelfand, MD, FACP wrote a letter to the CEO of UC Davis Health named Claire Pomeroy, MD over his concerns with the University, Dr. Fishman and the opioid epidemic. Below are excerpts of Dr. Gelfand's letter:

Claire Pomeroy, MD
CEO, UC Davis Health System and
Dean, UC Davis School of Medicine

Dear Dr. Pomeroy:

I am an experienced rheumatologist with over 35 years of clinical experience who has been involved in the controversy over prescription opioids for more than ten years, including a debate in PainMedicine News I had with Scott Fishman, MD of your institution in 2006.

Physicians like Dr. Fishman who continue to encourage the nonselective prescribing of opioids by primary care providers are only fueling this epidemic and the public health crisis of addiction and death. His 'pharmacovigilance solution' in his recent book involves the impractical approach of monitoring opioids for abuse after they are already started [rather than limiting their use initially], which by then may be too late, especially since addiction is one of the most difficult diseases in medicine to treat.

Dr. Fishman's messages to primary care physicians and his relationships to the opioid drug industry with its influence over medical education and patient care are particularly worrisome, especially when we consider the skyrocketing volume of addiction, abuse, overdose and death, as well as the rising crime rate related to opiate analgesics, all of which have continued to rise dramatically over the last few years. His many industry-sponsored 'educational' activities have been done under the banner of UC Davis, which should be a major concern to your institution.

His book, which is now being promoted by the Federation of State Medical Boards, continues to overstate the benefits and understate the risks of opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain, while encouraging primary care providers to maintain this practice by freely prescribing this powerful class of drugs [with brain effects similar to heroin], to almost anyone with pain.

In conclusion, it is hoped that you consider all this information and do what is needed for the benefit of your institution and medical care in this nation, and no longer support individuals who are responsible for the excessive overprescribing of opiate analgesics. This has become a major national public health crisis which must be curtailed for the future benefit of patient care, the lives of our citizens, and the welfare of our society.

Sincerely,

Stephen G. Gelfand, MD, FACP
Myrtle Beach, SC
1/16/12

Dr. Gelfand advised he did not receive a reply to his letter from Dr. Pomeroy or anyone at UC Davis.

Now seven years later, UC Davis and Dr. Fishman are preparing to soak up the sun in Hawaii and discuss pain treatments while families are dealing with the loss of loved ones because of the downplaying of the dangers of opioids. I have to think these same families would rather be taking out a second mortgage on their homes to afford the lavish digs in Hawaii where the conference will be held, but rather they are taking second mortgages to pay for their loved ones drug rehabilitations and/or funerals.

Many could say the University of California, Davis is responsible for launching the missile that has resulted in the Holocaust of death and addiction in supporting Dr. Fishman's push for opioids destroying tens of thousands -- if not hundreds of thousands of lives -- in 50 states and Canada. UC Davis can bask in the sands of Hawaii with Fishman and a University veterinarian at their conference by now encouraging yoga, nutrition and alternatives for the treatment of pain, but the opioid bomb has already exploded -- and could be referred to as the "Scott M. Fishman, MD bomb."