BILL REQ. #:  H-4356.2 

Read first time 01/24/2006.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Uncontrolled pain and other distressing symptoms are the primary concerns and greatest fears of patients facing serious illness; and
     WHEREAS, More than 90 percent of the pain associated with severe illness can be relieved if the treating physicians adhere to good medical practice and, if necessary, seek assistance from experts in pain management or palliative care; and
     WHEREAS, Physicians' fears of regulatory oversight and disciplinary action related to their use of pain management medications have been found to be a barrier for many physicians to prescribe pain management medications as necessary to control a patient's pain; and
     WHEREAS, The State of Washington's laws include a Medical Practice Act which specifically recognizes that pain management is a part of accepted medical practice; and
     WHEREAS, The State of Washington has developed and adopted guidelines for the management of pain in order to acquaint practitioners with recognized national standards in the field of pain management; and
     WHEREAS, The Drug Enforcement Agency's role and expertise is to combat criminal substance abuse and diversion, not to dictate to physicians what constitutes acceptable medical practice for seriously ill and dying patients;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request that Congress not interfere with a state's right to define legitimate medical practice, and not expand the Drug Enforcement Agency's regulatory authority over a physician's best medical judgment to prescribe necessary pain management medications in chronic and end-of-life care.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.