A Sandwich, Mass., physician said that proposed legislation requiring physicians to consult an online patient database before prescribing painkillers is sorely needed, according to a Boston.com report.
Jay Rosenfeld, MD, said that the database is useful in treating patients during physical rehabilitation or with chronic pain. About 10 percent of his patients have a prescription for opioids, which he said he prescribes as a last resort.
"As someone who has been involved in pain medicine for almost 20 years, I feel that this is a very serious public health issue," Dr. Rosenfeld said. "We need to take as many safeguards as possible to make sure that the people who need this medication get this medication, and the people who don't need this medication or who are prone to abusing this medicine do not get this medication."
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Jay Rosenfeld, MD, said that the database is useful in treating patients during physical rehabilitation or with chronic pain. About 10 percent of his patients have a prescription for opioids, which he said he prescribes as a last resort.
"As someone who has been involved in pain medicine for almost 20 years, I feel that this is a very serious public health issue," Dr. Rosenfeld said. "We need to take as many safeguards as possible to make sure that the people who need this medication get this medication, and the people who don't need this medication or who are prone to abusing this medicine do not get this medication."
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