News in brief - March 28, 2005

Life term proposed for pain physician - Neurology academy to publish magazine

Life term proposed for pain physician

Federal prosecutors have asked U.S. District Judge Leonard D. Wexler to send pain physician William E. Hurwitz, MD, to prison for the rest of his life. Wexler is scheduled to announce his decision April 14.

In December 2004, a jury found Dr. Hurwitz guilty on 50 of 62 charges related to his prescribing of pain medications. Prosecutors said he illegally prescribed narcotic pain medication, causing the death of one patient and seriously injuring two others.

Some pain medicine specialists said the request would boost the current "chilling effect" from law enforcement investigations into physician opioid-prescribing practices.

Because Dr. Hurwitz's pain practice was so large and he was willing to prescribe larger amounts of opioids than most physicians, American Academy of Pain Medicine President Scott Fishman, MD, said he would "caution any physician from extrapolating Dr. Hurwitz's case to their own."

Nevertheless, Dr. Fishman added that Dr. Hurwitz's case raises precedent-setting questions about criminalizing medical practice issues that are usually under the jurisdiction of state licensing boards.

Neurology academy to publish magazine

The American Academy of Neurology in April will launch Neurology Now, a magazine for patients and their practitioners.

The academy said one reason for publishing the magazine is that patients are overwhelmed and confused by the barrage of inaccurate information from unreliable sources. Patients and their families are also often overwhelmed -- and their physicians hard-pressed -- to put the avalanche of new information in proper perspective, the academy said.

The premier issue will get a special promotional launch during the AAN's 57th Annual Meeting April 9-16 in Miami Beach, Fla. The magazine will be available to patients in waiting rooms of neurologists across the United States and also by subscription for home delivery.

The first issue will feature a cover story about actress Teri Garr, who has been living with multiple sclerosis for several years. Each quarterly issue will highlight the latest advances in neurology research and treatment. Articles will provide tips for living and coping with disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.

For more information about Neurology Now, visit the magazine's Web site (www.neurologynow.com).