PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

Prosecutor seeks physicians' help in halting drug diversion

U.S. attorney in Tennessee says cooperation and communication between law enforcement and physicians saves lives.

By Andis Robeznieks, AMNews staff. Nov. 18, 2002.

Since moving to the U.S. Attorney's office in Knoxville, Tenn., three years ago, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Bolen has led several trials involving the misuse of pain-management drugs and treatments.

She has also worked with the Southern Pain Society and the Tennessee Pain Society, speaking at meetings attended by physicians who treat pain, in hopes of improving relations between law enforcement and medical professionals who are more used to finding themselves on opposing sides of this issue.

Benjamin W. Johnson Jr., MD, believes Bolen's efforts have paid off.

"We're dealing with a phenomenon called 'pain,' which has no objective measure," said Dr. Johnson, a pain-management specialist and an assistant professor in the department of anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn. "I believe she's made an honest effort to understand the type of problems physicians who prescribe these medications legitimately have."

Dr. Johnson said pain management is a "highly individualistic issue," and he said major strides have been taken to educate law enforcement officials on what constitutes proper pain treatment.

"They tend to see the worst part of the situation," he said. "This [improved] relationship has given law enforcement officials a better idea of physicians who may be prescribing inappropriately."

In a recent interview with American Medical News, Bolen was asked about her speaking engagements and the cases she prosecutes.

Q: How did you get involved with speaking about pain management issues with physicians? [...]

Full text of AMNews content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.

Access details

Join the AMA