Purdue Funded Doctors Suggest Increased Pain Meds for Babies

Report promoting wider use of pain medications specifically targeting kids is funded by the makers of Oxycontin.

Doctors funded by Purdue and other huge pharmaceutical companies, issued a report suggesting small children need more pain medications.

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - A meeting held by "a family foundation dedicated to reducing human suffering caused by pain......" was held in Washington, DC this past June 2009 -- Below is the link to the recommendations of this meeting. The report is a fast read -- only about ten actual pages, and the link contains background information I find interesting -- for want of a better word. Below that, is my problem with the report.

Actually "problem" is not the correct word -- the words "criminal marketing" as well as "a vested interest in continued financial reward" both come to mind though. (see: A Call to Revolutionize Chronic Pain Care in America)

Marianne Skolek

One of the Committee Co-Chairs of this Mayday Fund is Russell Portenoy, MD and past president of the American Pain Foundation who is presently on the Board of the Foundation. The American Pain Foundation is not only funded by the convicted criminals, Purdue Pharma but also other pharmaceutical companies.

Portenoy has been a "consultant" for dozens of pharmaceutical companies -- including the manufacturer of OxyContin -- Purdue Pharma. He has served on the Speakers Bureau for Purdue Pharma as well as receiving funding from them. He has a "financial/professional relationship" with several pharmaceutical companies -- including Purdue Pharma and has received grants from Purdue Pharma to his Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center.

Kathleen M. Foley, MD served as a Committee Member on the Mayday Fund Report. Foley has been quoted as saying "I'm honored to have an endowed chair established in my name at the Center for Practical Bioethics - an organization that shares my commitment to improving access to pain care and enhancing pain policy in the United States."

"With this endowed chair, the Center has elevated its level of dedication still higher to relieve pain and suffering at all stages of life."

The Center is currently identifying potential candidates for the Kathleen M.Foley Chair for Pain and Palliative Care, which will be funded by a $3 million endowment.

Purdue Pharma has provided a lead gift of $1.5 million, and efforts are under way to raise the balance of the endowment. Purdue has been quoted by its CEO, John Stewart as saying "Purdue is pleased and proud to play a part in establishing such an important position in the pain community. This endowment embodies our longstanding commitment to ensuring proper pain management and access to care for the millions of Americans suffering from chronic, debilitating pain."

In the Conclusion of the Mayday Fund Report, it reads "Reducing the burden of uncontrolled chronic pain is a societal necessity, a medical challenge and an economic requirement.

Chronic pain, if not recognized and treated as a chronic illness, takes an enormous personal toll on millions of patients and their families, and leads to increased health care costs. Chronic pain can also compromise the productivity of the U.S. workforce."

Maybe Portenoy and Foley and the other Committee Members contributing to this report would like to address the epidemic in this country of OxyContin deaths and addictions which has taken "an enormous personal toll on millions of patients and their families."

Do you want to address the staggering health care costs of rehabilitation in drug facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada because your esteemed Purdue Pharma marketed OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused?

The report also addresses the untreated pain that puts children at risk of developing chronic pain or anxiety later in life and cites most children receiving 24 immunizations before their second birthday. (That equates to an immunization a month -- does anyone else think this lacks credibility?)

"Such pain, although brief can be very intense and can lead to long-lasting anxiety" And what are these Mayday Fund contributors suggesting we give our toddlers for immunization pain? OxyContin? May I suggest their next report deal with the attributes of Tylenol in treating toddlers for immunization pain as it has been very effective for generations.

Also, using Tylenol wouldn't have the need for Portenoy and Foley to participate in another Mayday Fund Report entitled --- "How did my two year toddler become a drug addict?"

Since I don't know how the contributors to this report can sleep at night, may I suggest a sleeping pill?

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
oxydeaths.com