I misunderstood, sorry, I thought you meant the pt should have the "agency" to decide how to take their painkillers.
I don't have the data to back this up, but I don't think the DEA is the primary impetus for drug testing patients. What I surmise is that most likely, a double-blind academic study was done, just like how they establish every other standard treatment protocol. Likely, they determined that drug-testing patients significantly reduces the incidence of OD and abuse, i.e. reduces morbidity and mortality. Being scientists, they adopt the technique that works.
There is a big difference between treating a one-time injury and writing a prescription for 20 pills, versus someone with a pinched spinal cord that's never going to get better, that gets a permanent supply. For the latter, you go to a pain specialist. IIRC GP's dont even get involved with that.
> that should be no more dangerous than any other medicine
an NSAID "should be no more dangerous" than an opiate ? Please tell me you are aware that unrelated molecules will have dramatically different pharmacological effects on a human body.
If a doctor gives you access to a deadly product, one that could kill you if you go over by merely a single pill, and doesn't do everything they possibly can, then a jury, medical board, or (in rare cases) the cops might have a case for malpractice or patient endangerment. Anyway, I dont have any more fuel to back this argument up, but I wish your friend the best, pain-free life!
I upvoted your comment because I agree with your points, I just think doctors should be able to do what they think is right without fear of prosecution. And at my friend's pain management doctor's office, there was a big sign in the front room enumerating the steps he felt he needed to take him to protect himself from DEA prosecution. My sister's a lawyer who I asked about the sign and she said he was probably being extremely conservative, but that doctors don't even want to show up on the DEA's radar. Doctors are human like anyone else, and having a DEA agent ask to see your records would scare them silly, just like anyone else. And patients suffer. A lot.
I don't have the data to back this up, but I don't think the DEA is the primary impetus for drug testing patients. What I surmise is that most likely, a double-blind academic study was done, just like how they establish every other standard treatment protocol. Likely, they determined that drug-testing patients significantly reduces the incidence of OD and abuse, i.e. reduces morbidity and mortality. Being scientists, they adopt the technique that works.
There is a big difference between treating a one-time injury and writing a prescription for 20 pills, versus someone with a pinched spinal cord that's never going to get better, that gets a permanent supply. For the latter, you go to a pain specialist. IIRC GP's dont even get involved with that.
> that should be no more dangerous than any other medicine
an NSAID "should be no more dangerous" than an opiate ? Please tell me you are aware that unrelated molecules will have dramatically different pharmacological effects on a human body.
If a doctor gives you access to a deadly product, one that could kill you if you go over by merely a single pill, and doesn't do everything they possibly can, then a jury, medical board, or (in rare cases) the cops might have a case for malpractice or patient endangerment. Anyway, I dont have any more fuel to back this argument up, but I wish your friend the best, pain-free life!