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No, I still agree. If a doctor is giving someone painkillers when they aren't necessary, then that's not much different from drug dealers on the street. Just be

No, I still agree. If a doctor is giving someone painkillers when they aren't necessary, then that's not much different from drug dealers on the street. Just because they are doctors doesn't mean they should get a free pass. Even more so, the opposite should be true, because we expect doctors to have integrity. If there is nuance to a specific case of this, then let that be determined in court.

GordonS 9y ago
The OP said no opioids should be prescribed unless the patient is terminally ill - since you say you agree, are you saying that opioids are only necessary for terminally ill patients?
- alkonaut 9y ago
  What I meant was very rare and exceptional cases where the side effects aren't that important. Cancer patients was one such example.
justinjlynn 9y ago
> If a doctor is giving someone painkillers when they aren't necessary, then that's not much different from drug dealers on the street. Well, you're not wrong. However, this isn't limited to opioids. If a doctor is not following the standard of care, according to their peers, and a patient has an adverse outcome then the Doctor is subject to board review and they may have their license revoked and/or be prosecuted. This is already in place and has been for some time. This is why most Doctors are generally extremely conservative in the treatments and interventions they recommend for their patients.
deelowe 9y ago
You assume that there's a quantitative definition of necessary. Pain is subjective.
rtpg 9y ago
The main difference is that a doctor supposedly has a higher interest in your well being than your dealer does. My understanding is that a doctor isn't going to be making more money because they're prescribing you opiods or not. But they do it anyways because it can help you through pain. Just like you can get stuff to help with your cold, even if it's not necessary Airlines aren't the same as pillow manufacturers just because they lend you one on a flight.
- CodeWriter23 9y ago
  I think the doctors we are discussing here are the ones that took a higher interest in the bribe than their patients.

GordonS 9y ago

The OP said no opioids should be prescribed unless the patient is terminally ill - since you say you agree, are you saying that opioids are only necessary for terminally ill patients?

alkonaut 9y ago
What I meant was very rare and exceptional cases where the side effects aren't that important. Cancer patients was one such example.

justinjlynn 9y ago

> If a doctor is giving someone painkillers when they aren't necessary, then that's not much different from drug dealers on the street. Well, you're not wrong. However, this isn't limited to opioids. If a doctor is not following the standard of care, according to their peers, and a patient has an adverse outcome then the Doctor is subject to board review and they may have their license revoked and/or be prosecuted. This is already in place and has been for some time. This is why most Doctors are generally extremely conservative in the treatments and interventions they recommend for their patients.

deelowe 9y ago

You assume that there's a quantitative definition of necessary. Pain is subjective.

rtpg 9y ago

The main difference is that a doctor supposedly has a higher interest in your well being than your dealer does. My understanding is that a doctor isn't going to be making more money because they're prescribing you opiods or not. But they do it anyways because it can help you through pain. Just like you can get stuff to help with your cold, even if it's not necessary Airlines aren't the same as pillow manufacturers just because they lend you one on a flight.

CodeWriter23 9y ago
I think the doctors we are discussing here are the ones that took a higher interest in the bribe than their patients.