Plight of a pain management expert highlights the risks of opioid Rx

by: Julia Kyles Feb 21, 2013

Health care providers and law enforcement agents struggle to control prescription opioid addiction and overdoses. But even leaders in the field of pain management aren’t immune to the risks of prescribing these powerful narcotics.

Consider Lynn Webster, M.D., president-elect of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. His pain clinic was raided by the DEA three years ago and he is still under investigation for the overdose deaths of more than a dozen patients. If Webster’s name sounds familiar, you may see it every day on your opioid risk tool.

But addiction and overdose aren’t the only risks, Webster notes. Patients have committed suicide when he lowered their dosages.

So what’s the lesson here? We think it is to follow Dr. Webster’s example and be diligent.

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