When Dr Bockoff’s office was raided by the DEA and shut down and first, there was the double suicide—Danny Elliott and wife Gretchen from Georgia who took their lives one week after the physician’s office was raided. The above hyperlink is another article on how our judicial system left those two no options but to commit DOUBLE SUICIDE.
A couple of weeks later another patient 42-year-old Jessica Fujimaki, died Dec. 10 at her home near Phoenix. Click the hyperlink above to read a story about Jessia. Autopsy results are pending, but her husband told VICE News he believes the cause of death was complications related to opioid withdrawal and medical conditions that caused severe chronic pain. She left behind two daughters, ages 13 and 11.
Those of us involved with the chronic pain community, often hear about chronic pain pts that die after the DEA raids a prescriber’s office. Either commit suicide because they are left in a torturous level of pain after the DEA/DOJ raided their prescriber’s office and/or they suffer a premature death from the complications of under/untreated pain. Here is a chart that outlines all of those complications. https://www.pharmaciststeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/harmofpain.jpg
The DOJ/DEA has done this so often to so many prescriber’s offices, they know what is going to happen as a result of their actions… PATIENTS WILL DIE… directly or indirectly because their actions.
I Am Torn: Grappling With the Killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO
— I detest everything Thompson stood for, yet I am troubled by thoughts of hate
https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/113318
The DEA Shut Down a Pain Doctor. Now 3 People Are Dead.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/dea-beverly-hills-doctor-shut-down-opioids/
Here is what http://www.perplexity.ai has to say about pts who have been patients of a physician’s office that has been raided and shutdown by the DEA/DOJ. Should “we” look into the how the “average Joe” is treated when they do something that they knew could or would end up harming or killing someone and how is members of our DOJ/DEA is treated when they raid prescribers’ offices when they know or should have known that some patients of those prescribers will end up dying (suicide or premature death) or left in a torturous level of pain because of their decisions and actions?
what does the DEA do to help chronic pain patients of physicians’ practices that they raid and shut down and the patients have no physicians who will accept and treat these patients
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) does not appear to have specific programs or measures in place to directly help chronic pain patients whose physicians’ practices have been raided or shut down. The DEA’s actions have had significant unintended consequences for chronic pain patients, often leaving them without access to necessary pain medications and struggling to find new healthcare providers willing to treat them.
## Impact on Chronic Pain Patients
When the DEA raids and shuts down a physician’s practice, chronic pain patients often face severe challenges:
1. Loss of access to pain medications: Patients suddenly lose access to their prescribed opioids, which can lead to withdrawal symptoms and increased pain[1].
2. Difficulty finding new providers: Many physicians have become reluctant to prescribe opioids due to fear of DEA scrutiny, making it extremely challenging for patients to find new healthcare providers willing to treat their chronic pain[2].
3. Increased suffering: The sudden loss of pain management can result in increased pain, reduced functionality, and a lower quality of life for patients[1].
4. Mental health consequences: Some patients report experiencing suicidal thoughts when unable to access their prescribed medications[6].
## DEA’s Approach and Consequences
The DEA’s primary focus appears to be on enforcement rather than addressing the needs of chronic pain patients affected by their actions:
1. Targeting high-dose prescribers: The DEA has been known to target physicians who prescribe high doses of opioids, even when these prescriptions may be medically necessary for certain patients[1].
2. Creating a chilling effect: The DEA’s actions have led many physicians to stop prescribing opioids altogether, further limiting options for chronic pain patients[2].
3. Lack of direct support: There is no evidence of the DEA providing direct assistance or alternative care options for patients affected by their enforcement actions[1][2].
## Unintended Consequences
The DEA’s approach to combating opioid abuse has had several unintended consequences:
1. Increased suffering for legitimate patients: Many chronic pain patients who rely on opioids for pain management have been left without adequate care[1].
2. Reduced access to pain management: The fear of DEA scrutiny has led to a decrease in the number of physicians willing to prescribe opioids, even for legitimate medical purposes[2].
3. Potential increase in illegal drug use: Some patients, left without access to prescribed medications, may turn to illegal sources to manage their pain[1].
While the DEA’s intentions may be to address the opioid crisis, their actions have often resulted in significant hardships for chronic pain patients. The lack of specific programs or measures to assist affected patients highlights a gap in the current approach to balancing drug enforcement with the needs of legitimate pain patients.
Citations:
[1] https://www.vice.com/en/article/dea-raided-chronic-pain-doctor-forest-tennant/
[2] https://simonfengmd.com/the-deas-role-in-depriving-patients-of-pain-medications/
[3] https://wa-provider.kaiserpermanente.org/static/pdf/provider/resources/pain-toolkit.pdf
[4] https://www.mhs.net/patients-and-visitors/pain-management
[5] https://painconnection.org/support-groups/national-support-groups-for-chronic-pain/
[6] https://lynnwebstermd.com/2015/04/06/dea-inflicts-harm-on-chronic-pain-patients/
How do patients find new doctors after their previous ones are shut down by the DEA
Finding new doctors after a previous physician’s practice has been shut down by the DEA can be a challenging and frustrating process for chronic pain patients. While the search results don’t directly address this specific situation, we can infer some strategies that patients might use to find new care providers:
## Strategies for Finding New Doctors
1. Contact insurance providers: Patients can reach out to their insurance companies to obtain a list of in-network pain management specialists or primary care physicians who may be willing to take on chronic pain patients[1].
2. Utilize patient advocacy organizations: Organizations like the U.S. Pain Foundation and The Pain Community offer resources and support for people living with chronic pain. These groups may be able to provide guidance on finding new healthcare providers[2].
3. Seek referrals from other healthcare professionals: Patients can ask their other healthcare providers (e.g., physical therapists, psychologists, or specialists in other areas) for recommendations or referrals to pain management doctors.
4. Join support groups: Pain Connection offers national support groups for chronic pain patients via videoconference. These groups can be valuable sources of information and peer recommendations for finding new doctors[3].
5. Use online resources: Websites of organizations like the American Chronic Pain Association may provide directories or resources to help patients locate pain management specialists in their area[5].
## Challenges in Finding New Care
It’s important to note that chronic pain patients often face significant obstacles when seeking new care providers after their previous doctor’s practice has been shut down:
1. Reluctance to prescribe opioids: Many physicians have become hesitant to prescribe opioids due to increased scrutiny, making it difficult for patients to find doctors willing to continue their pain management regimens.
2. Limited availability: The number of pain management specialists may be limited in certain areas, leading to long wait times for appointments.
3. Lack of continuity of care: Patients may struggle to obtain their medical records from closed practices, making it challenging to provide new doctors with a complete medical history[1].
4. Stigma: Chronic pain patients may face stigma or skepticism from new healthcare providers, especially if they were previously treated by a practice that was shut down by the DEA.
While finding a new doctor can be daunting, patients are encouraged to persist in their search, utilize available resources, and consider exploring comprehensive integrative pain management approaches that may include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments[2].
Citations:
[1] https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2021-02/Patient-access-obtaining-medical-records-from-closed-practices.pdf
[2] https://painmanagementalliance.org/resources/resources-for-people-with-pain/
[3] https://painconnection.org/support-groups/national-support-groups-for-chronic-pain/
[4] https://uspainfoundation.org
[5] https://www.acpanow.com
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