Anesthesia and Pain in the News
Here are references to selected articles
from newspapers, popular magazines and broadcast media.
The articles are listed in reverse chronological order.
Additions are welcome. If you need more information or copies, contact:
A.J.
Wright, M.L.S.
Clinical Librarian
Department of Anesthesiology Library
School of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham
619 19th Street South, JT965
Birmingham AL 35249-6810
205/975-0158 [direct
line; voicemail]
205/934-4696 [departmental voice]
205/975-5963 [fax]
2004*2003*2002*2001*2000*1999 *1998 *1997 *1996 *1995 *1983*1977
2004
Eaton, Tracey. Castro stays awake in
surgery. Birmingham News October 23, 2004 p7A [reprinted from Dallas Morning
News]
Cuban leader required surgery after a fall that broke his left knee in eight
places. He chose epidural anesthesia for the three-hour-fifteen-minute surgery
rather than lose consciousness during general anesthesia. This story received
world-wide press coverage around this date.
*Survey: Many Students Suffer Migraines.
Migraines Increase after Puberty. October 21, 2004 HawaiiChannel.com
http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/health/3839786/detail.html
The survey was conducted by the American council for Headache
Education.
*Orlando lawyer arrested near courthouse on drug charges. WFTV-TV October 20, 2004 http://www.wftv.com Attorney Mark Rife was arrested when an undercover deputy found him in his car with empty nitrous oxide cans. See also "Lawyer accusd of inhaling laughing gas outside courthouse." Local6.com [Orlando, Fla.] http://www.local6.com/
*A doctor devoted to development of medical sector. Voice of Viet Nam [Hanoi] October 19, 2004 http://www.vov.org.vn "Doctor Le Kim Ha, head of the Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care at Hospital 175 under the Ministry of Defence, has been selected as one of five outstanding women to receive the Vietnam Women's Award 2004. She was chosen in recognition of her great contribution to the development of the medical sector."
*Pollack, Andrew. A New Trial of Celebrex,
and Questions on its Timing.New York Times October 19, 2004 http://www.nytimes.com/
Pfizer has announced a new trial of painkiller Celebrex to determine its
usefulness in preventing heart attacks. Less than three weeks earlier Merck had
withdrawn its painkiller Vioxx because of increased risk of heart attacks in
some patients using the drug. Only days earlier Pfizer had announced its other
COX-2 inhibitor, Bextra, increased heart attack and stroke risks in patients
undergoing coronary-bypass surgery.
Anesthetic Infusion May Relieve Pain Syndrome. Reuters Health October 18, 2004 http://www.reuters.co.uk Dr. Graeme E. Correll at Mackay Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia, and colleagues are investigating low-dose ketamine for complex regional pain syndrome.
*Moore, Janet. Taking Aim at Migraines.
Minneapolis Star Tribune October 17, 2004 http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5033190.html
Describes work of Dr. Richard Weiner of Dallas to use "a
neurostimulator to deliver electrical impulses near the occiptal nerves at the
base of the head." Medtronic, Inc., is to begin evaluating the ONSTIM
[Occipital Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Intractable Migraine]
treatment in 68-patients with chronic headaches.
*Be Conscious of Anaesthesia. Times of
India October 16, 2004 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/887379.cms
Notes that on the occasion of World Anaesthesia Day on October 16,
patients should be better informed about modern anesthesia. Quotes two New Delhi
anesthesiologists, Drs. Deepak Tempe [Indian Society of Anaesthetists President]
and Subba Reddy.
*Abelson, Reed. Pfizer warns of risks from its painkiller. New York Times October 16, 2004 http://www.nytimes.com/ Notes warning to doctors from Pfizer that one of its best-selling painkillers, Bextra, may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in certain patients. This warning follows by two weeks one from Merck about a similar drug, Vioxx.
@Your Job: Nurse anesthetist. Asbury Park
Press October 11, 2004
http://www.app.com/appstory/0,21625,1076210,00.html
Profiles CRNA bob Mirynowski of Liberty Anesthesia Associates, Freehold
Township.
Walker, Susan. Migraine relief is novel's
holy grail. Author a sufferer, just like her characters. Story a travelogue as
well as study of pain. Toronto Star October 9, 2004. http://www.thestar.com/
Author Catherine Bush's novel is _Claire's Head_, about two sisters who both
suffer migraines.
*Veterinarians Threaten Narcs with Strike
in Anesthesia Case. Moscow News October 8, 2004 http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/08/10/vetdrugs.html
Alexander Duki is latest veterinarian prosecuted by the State
Drug Control Agency for using ketamine in his practice. See also Schreck, Carl.
Ketamine Squad Turns on Doctors. Moscow Times July 13, 2004 http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/07/13/003.html
*Commission targets anesthesia failures. Action urged to prevent patients from feeling pain, waking up during surgery. Baltimore Sun October 6, 2004 http://www.baltimoresun.com/ Associated Press report about alert sent by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to the 4,579 hospitals it monitors in the U.S. Quotes Carol Weihrer of the Anesthesia Awareness Campaign, Commission President Dr. Dennis O'Leary, and anesthesiologists Dr. Asokumar Buvanendran of Rush Medical Center in Chicago and Dr. Roger Litwiller, President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. The story received wide media coverage.
*Anesthesiologists Gather to Explore the Latest in
Research, Techniques and Technology. Yahoo! Finance October 5, 2004 http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041005/cgtu015_1.html
Press release from the ASA via PRNewswire about the ASA annual meeting in Las
Vegas October 23-27, 2004.
*Pearce, Jeremey. Philip H. Sechzer, 90, Expert on
Pain and How to Ease it, Is Dead. New York Times October 4, 2004
Obituary profiles Dr. Sechzer, New York anesthesiologist and one of the
developers of patient-controlled analgesia.
*Hirth, Diane. State probles antitrust claims. Tallahassee anesthesiology providers investigated. Tallahassee.com October 3, 2004 http://www.tallahassee.com/ "The Florida Attorney General's Office is investigating alleged monopolistic practices in the provision of anesthesiology services in Tallahassee. Nine subpoenas were issued in August demanding documents on the business practices of area health providers, including..." anesthesiology providers Anesthesiology Associates of Tallahassee and Anesthesia Cooperative of Tallahassee.
*Dolan, Jack. 'It's Doctors Protecting Doctors.' Case Prompts Health Official to Urge Abolition of State Medical Board. Hartford Courant October 2, 2004 http://www.ctnow.com/ The case involves Norwalk plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Herman. In April one of his patients, a 31-year old woman, "fell into a permanent coma...following complications from anesthesia during a tummy-tuck" in Dr. Herman's office.
*Enright, Elizabeth. Rooting Out Pain. AARP Magazine
47(5A): 63-64, 66, 98, 103, September-October 2004. http://www.aarpmagazine.org/
Covers lower-back pain, arthritis, whole-body pain disorders, cancer pain,
neuropathic pain. Includes material on alternative treatments and faith healing.
*"Group Urges Care in Using 'Deep
Anesthesia.'" National Public Radio September 28, 2004
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4051539
NPR's Richard Knox reports on a conference at which a group of
anesthesiologists, including Dr. David Gaba of Stanford University, discuss
findings "that patients who are put into a deeper sleep during surgery are
more likely to die within weeks, or months."
*Man Convicted in 30-Year Case. WIBW-TV [Topeka,
Kansas] September 28, 2004 http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/1056326.html
Describes the case of John Henry Horton, convicted for the July 1974 killing of
13-year-old Lizbeth Wilson in Johnson County. "Prosecutors say Horton lured
or forced the girl into a vacant school building, where he used chloroform to
disable her." This case received wide-spread media coverage in Kansas
during September, especially in the Kansas City Star.
*Maxon, Terry. Cap slows patient's lawsuit. Dallas
Morning News September 25, 2004
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/092504dnbizpatients.afeb5.html
"In June 2002, Rusty Williams of Austin underwent successful heart surgery.
Unfortunately, he was conscious and feeling pain during much of the
operation." Mr. Williams in early September filed suit in state district
court in Travis County against the anesthesiologist, Dr. Kristopher A. Keck, and
his group, Capitol Anesthesiology Association PA. However, his case comes under
a Texas law that went into effect on September 1, 2003, and limits noneconomic
damages.
*Frazier, Matt. Facing shortage, Army calls on Texas
Weslyan students. Fort Worth Star-Telegram September 23, 2004 http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/9738487.htm
To try to fill its staffing needs, Army recruiters have visited the nation's
largest nurse anesthesia training program. Article notes in May 2003 some 364
nurse anesthetists and 77 anesthesiologists had been deployed to the Middle
East.
*Coleman, Jennifer. 20 dentists charged with fraud
in Calif. Seattle Post-Intelligencer September 22, 2004
"Twenty dentists were charged Wednesday with performing unnecessary and
shoddy work on healthy teeth, skimping on anesthesia and filing phony bills to a
state health insurance program for the poor."
*Weland, Mike. Memory of Dr. Kip Wilson honored with
fund. Kootenai Valley Press [Bonners Ferry, Idaho] September 22, 2004 http://www.kvpress.com/news/articles/040922wilson.htm
Anesthesiologist Kevin Wilson and his father died in the former's home in
Bonners Ferry from carbon monoxide poisoning form a faulty pool heater.
Sontra picks first distributor for SonoPrep skin anesthesia device. Mass High Tech "The Journal of New England High Tech" [Boston] September 21, 2004 http://www.masshightech.com/displayarticledetail.asp?Art_ID=66722Seattle-based CoMedical, Inc., chosen for Pacific Northwest distribution of the ultrasonic skin permeation device using lidocaine for rapid skin anesthesia. Also a PR Newswire release on the same date http://www.prnewswire.com/
"Pan Arab congress highlights major
advances in patient care in the Middle East. Specialists from across the UAE are
to attend a major Pan Arab congress on anaesthesia, which will examine major
breakthroughs in the field of operative care of patients, including one of the
region's first robotic assisted cardiac operations." AMEInfo September 20,
2004
http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/45576.html
Describes the 8th Pan Arab Congress of Anaesthesia in Beirut, Lebanon.
Rosenberg, Debra. "Kentucky's Pain.
Three years into the war on OxyContin abuse, the casualties continue. But
there's hope where it all began." Newsweek September 20, 2004, pp 44-45
http://www.newsweek.com/
Describes work around Hazard, Kentucky, of Operation UNITE, a new federal task
force.
Scolforo, Mark. "Doctor charged with
killing her 79-year-old mother." Centre [Pa.] Daily September 14, 2004
http://www.centredaily.com
Dr. Rita Ann Sawyer, 48, an anesthesiologist, signed her mother, an Alzheimer's
patient, out of a nursing home on June 20 and allegedly used midazolam as a
contributing factor in her mother's death in Sawyer's Annville home. Sawyer
worked for Lebanon Anesthesia Associates and practiced at Good Samaritan
Hospital in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. See also Miller, Barbara. "Dream went
bad, friend says." Harrisburg Patriot-News September 15, 2004; Stewart,
Les, "Report: Murder suspect failed at suicide." Lebanon Daily News
September 15, 2004; Stewart, Les. "Accused mom-killer returned to
county." Lebanon Daily News October 11, 2004; and Caldwell, Carrie.
"Doctor arraigned in her mother's death." Harrisburg Patriot-News
October 12, 2004.
Hasemyer, David. "Anesthesiologist
agrees his errors led to patient deaths. Surrenders license, faces medical
suit." San Diego Union Tribune September 13, 2004 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/200440913-9999-1m113bittar.html
San Diego's Dr. David Bittar, 63, "...has admitted that his negligence
contributed to the deaths of three patients within four months in 2002 during
procedures to sedate them for surgery."
Lesher, Jason. 2 men charged with planning to sell
inhalant balloons.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review September 9, 2004 http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/westmoreland/s_249334.html
Police found nitrous oxide tanks and a "large duffel bag full of
balloons" in a Mercedes Benz owned by the girlfriend of Joseph S. Sabol,
one of the men arrested; the other was Carlos McClintock. The men were
apparently planning to sell the balloons at the Rolling Rock Town Fair V.
Police confiscate record ketamine haul at CKS
airport. Taipei Times September 9, 2004 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/09/09/2003202193
Police arrested two men in possession of 63kg of liquid ketamine at CKS
International Airport.
BATTLE over lethal injection playing out in courts
WKYT - Lexington,KY,USA September 8, 2004 http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=2274746
"... Kyle Janek, an anesthesiologist, said the amount of anesthesia given
in lethal injections is 10 times more than the dosage given to a patient going
into surgery ..."
DOCTOR surrenders medical license in Washington state Seattle Post Intelligencer - Seattle,WA,USA September 7, 2004 http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Malpractice%20Settlement OLYMPIA, Wash. -- "An anesthesiologist involved in a surgery that left a woman severely brain-damaged has agreed to permanently surrender his license."... "Dr. Robert L. Berry will no longer practice medicine or surgery in Washington state, the state Department of Health said in a news release Tuesday.Berry, who lives in Madisonville, La., also is licensed to practice medicine in Arizona and Louisiana." See also "Doctor who diverted drugs surrenders license to practice medicine in state; Anesthesiologist subject of inquiry in case of coma victim" in the Seattle Post Intelligencer on September 8: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/189918_berry08.html See also the Seattle P-I's long investigative report. "Under doctor's care, tragedy strikes a woman and her family," published November 25, 2003, http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/149699_coma25.html
PERSECUTED Lebanese Christian Couple Refused Entry
in United States. BosNewsLife - Hungary September 7, 2004
http://www.bosnewslife.com/article/2/1/5/9/1.aspx
"He [Emile Azar] is an anesthesiologist and a professional nurse,
occupations that are in need of skilled professionals all across the
country.".
Corrigan, Patricia. Mannequins help medical students
prepare for surgical crises. Kaleidoscope [University of Alabama at Birmingham]
40(30):4, September 7, 2004
This long article includes discussion of the use of mannequins at the St. Louis
University Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care and its Chairman, Dr.
Mark Comunale.
ALERT anesthesia Washington Times -
Washington,DC,USA September 7, 2004 http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20040906-095845-9092r.htm
"... otherwise known as alert anesthesia or moderate sedation, is a black
box in more ways than one, says Dr. John Dombrowski, an anesthesiologist in
private ..."
Yates, Jennifer C. Advances in pain management
lessen post-op problems. Birmingham News September 6, 2004 4D
Associated Press story. Individuals quoted include Dr. Jacques Chelly of the
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Dr. Barry Cole of the American
Academy of Pain Management.
*Hurley, Kevin. Dentist tragedy parents
strike deal. Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday August 29, 2004
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1012972004
Six years after their son Daren Denholm died during a routine tooth
extraction, the parents have agreed to a secret, out-of-court settlement. The
child from Armadale, West Lothian, died in October 1998 of a heart seizure at
the Peffermill Clinic in Edinburgh. Testimony at the fatal accident inquiry the
following year pointed to a fatal reaction to the two different types of
anesthesia administered. A local anesthetic containing adrenaline was given
after the child had already received a general anesthetic.
*Roper, Chris. "Beware of 'Mr. Wobbly.'"
News24 [South Africa] August 27, 2004
http://www.news24.com/
"Cape Town is being terrorised by a vigilante who locals have dubbed 'The
Tattoo Artist'. In the last two weeks, he has struck four times. On Tuesday
night, at approximately 11pm, the infamous Tattoo Artist claimed another victim.
This time, the masked avenger caught Clinton Montgomery, 17, drugged him with
chloroform, and left his usual calling card--the words 'Hello Mr. Wobbly'
tattooed across his victim's forehead....Alas. This is all fiction..." [an
anti-graffiti artist column]
Anaesthesia Associates of Massachusetts to be Featured on Inside Health. Business Wire August 26, 2004 http://home.businesswire.com/ The segment was scheduled to run on The Learning Channel's broadcast of "Inside Health," hosted by Peggy Fleming, on August 29.
*ONE-HUNDRED-FIFTY year old lessons of John Snow
still relevant ... Michigan State University (press release) - East
Lansing,MI,USA 26 August 2004
http://www.newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/2112/content.htm
"... Titled “Cholera, Chloroform, and the Science of Medicine: A Life of
John Snow,” the recently published book is what the authors call a “scientific
..." Issued on the 150th anniversary of the outbreak of London's Broad
Street pump cholera epidemic investigated by anaesthetist Snow.
*DOCTOR, Hospital Fined In Death Hartford Courant
(subscription) - Hartford,CT,USA August 25, 2004
http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-docfine0425.artaug25,1,3455134.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
"Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center in Waterbury has paid a $35,000 fine and
promised to make sure its staff is fully trained in the use of anesthesia
equipment." The three year-old female patient lost oxygen during
"routine"
*Dugan, Kelli M. Working through pain. Montgomery
Advertiser August 24, 2004
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWSV5/storyV5hmain24w.htm
Profiles workers dealing with such conditions as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Includes sidebar "Minimize strain to avoid pain" http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWSV5/storyV5hcenter24w.htm
that describes 12 such conditions, risk factors, etc.
*Dash, Eric. A New Way to Spell Pain Relief:
M-I-N-T-Y F-R-E-S-H. New York Times August 23, 2004 http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/23/business/media/23mint.html?th
"Tylenol, made by the McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals
division of Johnson & Johnson, has long been touted for safe and effective
pain relief. But with the new campaign, McNeil is on a quest to make the drug
more appealing to consumers."
*POSTCARD: Is there a doctor on the airplane?
International Herald Tribune - Paris,France August 21, 2004
http://www.iht.com/articles/534981.htm
"I'm both a businesswoman and an anesthesiologist. I asked the closest
flight attendant if I could help and told him I was a doctor."
Autobiographical profile by Los Angeles anesthesiologist Dr. Julia Hunter.
Originally pubilshed by the New York Times.
*ANESTHESIOLOGY monopoly? Tallahassee.com -
Tallahassee,FL,USA [Tallahasse Democrat] August 20, 2004
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/9447035.htm
"... Eight local health-care providers were ordered to turn over documents,
including Anesthesiology Associates of Tallahassee, Anesthesia Cooperative of
Tallahassee ..." in an investigation of possible antitrust violations.
*PUTTING a nightmare to rest Dental surgeon pioneers
anesthesia technique Lancaster Newspapers - Lancaster,PA,USA August 20,
2004
http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/news/local/4/8074
"Recall - the situation of waking during surgery or remembering a surgical
procedure in spite of anesthesia - is one of the biggest fears oral surgeon
Steven ..." The technique is Bispectral Index (BIS).
SEX Change Can Cause Headache Reuters -
London,England,UK August 18, 2004 http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=6011007§ion=news
"New research involving male-to-female transsexuals lends further credence
to the theory that sex hormones are involved in migraine generation,
physicians..."
Hunter, Julia. "Exactly what does a doctor
sound like?" New York Times August 17, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/
Los Angeles anesthesiologist Dr. Hunter describes the reaction of a flight
attendant when she tried to offer assistance to another passenger needing CPR.
MANAGING Migraine, Preventive Therapies Can Reduce
the Frequency ... Medical News Today - UK August 16, 2004
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=12116
"Physicians can quickly screen for migraine with considerable accuracy. The
clinician's role, according to one migraine expert...“
*Velasco, Anna. Surgery savings. Office-based
surgery is on the rise, but hospitals and insurers aren't enthusiastic about the
practice. Birmingham News August 16, 2004, 1D, 3D
Notes that 169 doctors in Alabama are performing surgery in their offices.
Includes quotes from Dr. Jeff Plagenhoef, Dothan anesthesiologist and immediate
past president of the Alabama State Society of Anesthesiologists, who notes that
"Alabama is one of the first 20 states to pass office-based surgery
guidelines."
*Vision of the future. News 8 Austin Television [Austin, Tx] August 12, 2004 http://www.news8austin.com/ Describes Vigilance, a system developed by anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Higgins and others at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Allows user to monitor several operating room cases at once. Same story also covered by WPTZ-TV [Plattsburgh, NY], WWW site on September 12, 2004 http://www.thechamplainchannel.com
Toland, Bill. Execution injections painful
and cruel, critics say. Axis of Logic August 24, 2004 http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_11270.shtml
Describes testimony of Carol Weihrer before a Pennsylvania state legislative
judiciary committee hearing on ban proposed by Rep.
Daylin Leach of pancuronium family of agents in lethal executions. Weihrer had
awareness during eye surgery and had been given pancuronium bromide. Also quotes
Columbia University anesthesiologist Mark Heath, who notes that Tennessee banned
veterinary use of pancuronium. Texas state senator and anesthesiologist Kyle
Janek disagreed in written testimony.
Heath-Rawlings, Jordan. Shoot me, I feel a migraine coming. Toronto Star August 12, 2004 http://www.thestar.com/ "Gun-like device destroys headaches. Magnetic pulses disrupt pain producers." Article notes that "Dr. Adrian Upton, head of neurology at McMaster University in Hamilton, is working with U.S. inventors on making such a device available publicly."
*Kennedy, Tracy. Lawyers say city man was
mentally unstable, high during murder.
Torrington [CT] Register Citizen August 11, 2004 http://www.registercitizen.com/
His defense attorney noted in trial opening remarks that among other mitigating
circumstances Eduardo Santiago was high on various substances, including
ketamine, when he shot Joseph Niwinski in the head in December 2000.
*Hesman, Tina. Comedian Jerry Lewis tells of 37 years battling chronic pain. St. Louis Post-Dispatch August 11, 2004 http://www.stltoday.com/ Notes Lewis' recent appearance at a seminar at St. John's Mercy Medical Center. He described a gag in 1965--a flip from a piano--that injured him in such a way that subsequent surgeries and medications gave no relief. A spinal cord stimulator manufactured by Medtronic, Inc., in Minneapolis finally provided relief from the pain.
Davis, Lester. "Police seize nitrous
oxide, balloons for distribution. 3 men arrested had plans to sell the gas at
concert."Baltimore Sun August 11, 2004
http://www.baltimoresun.com/
The three men, aged 22 to 27, were headed to a Phish concert in Boston.
Lineberger, Mark. Charge: Doctor burned
house. Kinston Free Press August 10, 2004 http://www.kinston.com/
Describes arrest of anesthesiologist Dr. Frank Sutton for burning down his own
house in Kinston, North Carolina, on May 5. This event also received coverage on
August 9 and 10 in the Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News and Winston-Salem
Journal and on such television stations as WTVD.
"Worker charged with praciticing health care without a license." Miami Herald August 10, 2004 [Associated Press story] http://wwww.miami.herald.com/ Describes charges against Michelle Lynn Lawrence, "a woman who was not a licensed nurse [who] adminstered anesthesia in a cosmetic surgery clinic, Cosmetic Surgery Center in Sarasota, where a patient died after breast augmentation surgery..." Lawrence, who allegedly assited Dr. Kurt Dangle, was accused of administering anesthesia in July 2003; drugs included ketamine and fentanyl. See also "Warrant claims woman lacked license.Records show that Michelle Lawrence, who isn't a licensed nurse, administered anesthesia to patients." Sarasota Herald-Tribune August 11, 2004 http://www.heraldtribune.com "Unlicensed worker played key role at surgery clinic." Sarasota Herald-Tribune August 11, 2004 http://www.heraldtribune.com "Charges filed against worker at clinic where patient died." Daytona Beach News-Journal [Associated Press story] August 11, 2004 http://www.news-journalonline.com/ and "Dr. Dangl's aide surrenders. Michelle Lawrence is accused of working without a license." Sarasota Herald-Tribune August 13 2004 http://www.heraldtribune.com
Turnbull, Barbara. It's a real pain. Headache sufferers aren't malingering; many endure excruciating, disabling and ruinous agony. Toronto Star August 4, 2004 http://www.thestar.com
*Managing chronic pain. WABC-TV [New York] August 4,
2004 http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_080404_managingpain.html
Experts interviewed about ways to deal with chronic pain include Dr. Russell
Portenoy of the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.
*Srikameswaran, Anita. Nerve blocking techniques are
real boost to recovery. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette August 3, 2004
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/042l6/355625.stm
Profiles Dr. Jacques Chelly, director of the Posner Inpatient Pain Center at the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside, about the use of nerve blocks
to control postoperative pain.
*Caggiano, Janet. The new drill. Call them wimps,
but some patients gladly tune out at the dentist's office. Richmond
Times-Dispatch August 1, 2004
Describes use of conscious sedation for patients with serious fear of dental
procedures.
Caggiano, Janet. Dentists get added
training for some sedation options. Richmond Times-Dispatch August 1, 2004 http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Discusses the training given to about 4000 dentists in oral sedation by the
Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation since its founding in 2000. Also
notes training many dentists have received in multiple drug dosing, intravenous
sedation and general anesthesia.
Della Costa, Anna Maria. Lethal injection
may not be as humane as believed. Tuscaloosa News August 1, 2004. http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/
Discusses use of sodium pentothal and pancuronium in lethal injection
executions.
*Walton, Val. Former nurse indicted on drug charge.
Accused of tampering with pain medication patches. Birmingham News July 30, 2004
1C
Federal grand jury indicted Mark Boniella for removing fentanyl from Duragesic
patches while employed at Select Specialty's Birmingham long-term care facility
and then returning the patches to inventory. See also Walton, Val.
"Ex-nurse admits taking painkiller from patches." Birmingham News
September 29, 2004 1B.
*Dunn, S.A.L. Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray. Snitch San
Diego July 28, 2004 http://www.snitchsandiego.com/dunn0728a.htm
Describes the March 20, 1927, murder on Long Island of Albert Snyder, who was
subdued by chloroform before his death. Snyder was art editor of "Motor
Boating" magazine.
*Bakalar, Nicholas. Anesthesia, without a knockout
punch. New York Times July 27, 2004
Describes increasing options for many surgeries or procedures besides general
anesthesia: regional or local anesthesia, conscious sedation, sedation
analgesia, monitored anesthesia. Experts interviewed include Dr. Karen B. Domino
of the University of Washington.
*Fleming-Michael, Karen. New anesthesia machine to
include ventilator for surgical teams. dcmilitary.com July 22, 2004
http://www.dcmilitary.com/army/standard/9_15/local_news/30220-1.html
Describes the ventilatory assist device being deployed in Iraq to replace a
1980s-era vaporizer no longer manufactured.
Family seeks justice in Slainesville
woman's death. Mineral Daily News-Tribune [Keyser WV] July 22, 2004
http://www.newstribune.info/articles/2004/07/22/news/news02.txt
Describes complaint filed July 2 by the family of Mary Jane Shook of
Slainesville, West Virginia, in U.S. District Court for the District of
Maryland. The complaint includes 13 charges against Dr. Wyllys Royce Hodges III
and his group, Cumberland Anesthesia and Pain Management Associates of
Cumberland, Maryland. The charges involve Shook's history of difficult
intubation and the possible risks after she entered the hospital on March 4,
2003, for gall bladder removal.
Goad, Ben. Lake Arrowhead slaying victim ID'd.
Inland: Detectives don't have any motive or suspects, and have released few
details. Riverside Press-Enterprise July 21, 2004
Victim was 51-year-old Edmund Marrujo, an anesthesia technician from Palmdale.
See also Kallas, Jacqueline. Court appearance due for alleged murderer. Antelope
Valley Press February 5, 2005. This article notes that 41 year-old Orlando
Carbonell had been arrested July 28 and charged with the crime. Also notes that
the victim has worked for 30 years as an Anesthesia Medical Machine Tech in the
greater Los Angeles VA system.
Stewart, Perry. Absurd comedy is a real knockout. Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram July 20, 2004Reviews premiere of one-act play "For the Love of an Anesthesiologist" by Brad McEntire during the Festival of Independent Theatres at the Bath House Cultural Centre. See earlier article Perry Stewart, "Tantalizing slice of absurdity premieres at festival." Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram July 17, 2004
*Driver on drugs before death crash into river.
Stuff [New Zealand] July 20, 2004
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2977720a11,00.html
Nigel George Palmer "was high on drugs when he drove into Nelson's Maitai
River killing himself, crash survivors told an inquest yesterday." The
drugs included nitrous oxide; Palmer and his four passengers had stopped at a
dairy and "bought two boxes of nitrous oxide cannisters."
Laughing Gas Reportedly Confiscated from
Local Bar. Tipster Notifies Police of Alleged Bar Rave Party. WDIV-TV July 19,
2004
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3546808/detail.html
Shots of the gas were allegedly being sold at the Island Bar on Biddle Avenue in
Detroit for $5 each.
Trexler, Phil. Was death a mistake or mercy? Akraon
Beacon Journal July 17, 2004.
"Drug given to 88-year-old woman at Akron General emergency room in 2002
ends her pain and her life." Dr. Gary Gelesh administered succyinlcholine
to Hazel Wolf.
Bay City News Service. Report Details Anesthesia
Concerns at Sutter Solano. BenicaNews.com July 14, 2004
"A report made public today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services details the federal agency's concerns about the anesthesia services at
Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo [California] following a survey in June
by the California Department of Health Services." Concerns included 29
surgical anesthesias administered by unsupervised CRNAs. See earlier Bay City
News Service, "Vallejo Hospital Responds to Federal Survey Concerns."
VallejoNews.com July 9, 2004
Hayden, Thomas. Hidden Specialties. Meet the doctors
of sleep, images, and microscopes. U.S. News and World Report 137(1): 51-52, 54,
56, July 12, 2004
Pages cited are those covering anesthesiology, one of the specialties [along
with radiology and pathology] which do not get rated in the magazine's annual
"America's Best Hospitals" issue. The section on anesthsia includes a
sidebar, "New Needs, New Drugs," that covers pain medicine.
Anesthesiologists' roles outside the operating room are also described in the
article.
Temple, Chanda. Two sue drug companies over pain
patch leaks. Birmingham News July 11, 2004, 15A, 17A
Birmingham law firm sues Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceutica and ALZA
for two clients whose Duragesic pain patches allegedly leaked and caused them
harm.
Friedman, Richard A. Myths about truth
serum are intriguing. Movies misleading, anesthetists say. Toronto Star July 10,
2004
http://www.thestar.com/
Reprinted from the New York Times. Dr. Friedman first describes the mixture of
Versed and fentanyl he received before surgery to repair an inguinal hernia.
Physicians interviewed about "truth serums" and sedative drugs include
anesthesiologist Dr. John J. Savarese of Weil Medical College at Cornell
University.
Party drug ketamine gaining popularity in
Singapore clubs. Borneo Bulletin July 7, 2004
http://www.brunei-online.com/
Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau is increasing raids on clubs instead of
street busts as ketamine's popularity increases. Notes that a gram of ketamine
is selling for US$23 in Singapore.
Smith, Emily. The hell of headache. Chronic
headaches can make your life a misery but modern and traditional treatments can
help end the suffering. The Australian June 19, 2004
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
Long article describes types of headaches and various therapies.
Orndorff, Mary. Lethal-injection drug under attack.
Birmingham News May 29, 2004, 1A, 7A.
Drug is Pavulon, used in 30 states as part of a three-drug combination to
execute prisoners.
Friedman, Richard A. Going Under the Knife? Your
Deepest Secrets are Probably Safe. New York Times May 25, 2004
Dr. Friedman discusses his own experience with conscious sedation for an
inguinal hernia repair, as well as other types of surgery under light
anesthesias and dental procedures under nitrous oxide.
Griffin, Kawanza L. Near-infrared light may ease
pain for diabetics. Birmingham News May 24, 2004, 1D, 2D
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Discusses use of MIRE, monochromatic
infrared energy, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1994 to
treat diabetic neuropathy.
Filmer, Mark. Rural reward. Central Western
Daily [Orange, New South Wales, Australia] May 24, 2004 http://orange.yourguide.com.au/
Describes career of Dr. Frank Moloney, Director of Anaesthetics at Orange Base
Hospital. Dr. Moloney had recently received the Australian and New Zealand
College of Anaesthetists highest award, the Robert Orton Medal for distinguished
service to the practice of anesthesia.
Williams, Rudi. Army Physicians Working
Toward Bringing Wounded Troops Home Pain-Free. DefenseLINK News Armed Forces
Information Service May 24, 2004 http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2004/n05242004_200405241.html
Williams, Rudi. Doctor Recalls First Battlefield Use of Regional Anesthesia in
Iraq. DefenseLINK News Armed Forces Information Service May 24, 2004 http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2004/n05252004_200405252.html
Williams, Rudi. Walter Reed Pioneers Pain Management Program. DefenseLINK News
Armed Forces Information Service May 24, 2004 http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2004/n05262004_200405261.html
These three articles discuss the use of regional anesthesia in both Iraqand
Walter Reed Hospital.
Baraket, Matthew. Failed anethesia haunts Va. woman;
She forms group to help others after eye surgery left her traumatized. Detroit
News May 19, 2004
Carol Weihrer had been awake but paralyzed during surgery in 1998. Quotes
Roanoake, Virginia, anesthesiologist and ASA President Dr. Roger Litwiller on
relative rarity of such patient awareness.
Zimmerman, Rachel. Medical Contrition. Doctor's New
Tool to Fight Lawsuits: Saying 'I'm Sorry.' Wall Street Journal May 18, 2004,
A1, A14
Includes story of anesthesiologist Frederick van Pelt and his apology to a
patient whose heart stopped and had to be restarted by opening her chest because
he injected a drug in the wrong place. After his apology, the patient, who had
been having ankle surgery, dropped plans to sue. The story was widely syndicated
and reported in other newspapers and media outlets.
Hu, Winnie. Manhattan Hospital Is Fined After
Cosmetic Surgery Deaths. New York Times May 16, 2004.
State regulators fined Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital $20,000 for 10
violations in the deaths of author Oliver Goldsmith and another woman in her
fifties. See also Reuters News, "Fine levied in death of 'First Wives Club'
author" May 14, 2004.
Chandler, Kim. Bill aims to track controlled drugs.
Birmingham News May 5, 2004.
Alabama legislature approves creation of a database to track prescriptions of
OxyContin, Xanax and codeine. Some 18 states already have such a database. See
earlier article by Dave Parks, "Prescription database among new
bills." Birmingham News February 3, 2004.
Melendez, Michele M. Young musicians get therapy for
pain. Birminigham News March 30, 2004, 1E, 6E
From the Newhouse News Service. Discusses therapy for teenage musicians who
develop chronic pain.
Knight, Molly. Hospitals turn focus to pain
management. Birmingham News March 29, 2004, 2D.
From the Baltimore Sun. Notes that both large centers and community hospitals
have pain management programs. Also discusses such recent pain drug developments
as Oxycontin, Celebrex adn Vioxx.
Parks, Dave. The spoils of war: Civil War gave rise
to U.S. pharmaceutical industry, addiction. Birmingham News March 28, 2004, 23A,
26A.
Article was distributed widely by Newhouse News Service and published in various
other newspapers in late March and early April. Interviews Michael Flannery,
Associate Director for History Collections, University of Alabama at Birmingham,
about the growth of the pharmaceutical industry and Dr. Maurice Albin, UAB
Department of Anesthesiology, about addiction among former soldiers after the
Civil War.
Cason, Mike. Doctor's son to testify for state. Birmingham News March 17, 2004, 3B James Bryant, 19, along with his older brother Matthew Scott Bryant, are charged with capitol murder in the July 30, 2002, death of their father, Dr. John William Bryant, an Anniston anesthesiologist. The younger son has agreed to testify against his older brother and two others in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme.
Sellum, Jacob. Gotta Hurt: The Irrecondilable
Conflict Between Drug Control and Pain Control. Black and White [Birmingham,
Alabama] March 11, 2004, #236:13
Sellum is a senior editor at _Reason_ magazine and author of the book _Saying
Yes: In Defense of Drug Use_. Article discusses use and control of narcotic
painkillers.
Miller, Martin. If medicine won't help, surgery can
cut carpal pain. Birmingham News March 1, 2004, 1D, 3D
From the Los Angeles Times. Describes two types of surgery used to relieve
carpal tunnel pain.
*New Priestley exhibit marks 200th anniversary of
his death. Shamokin [Pennsylvania] News-Item February 24, 2004
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10907191&BRD=2311&PAG=461&dept_id=482260&rfi=8
Describes exhibit of recently acquired items at the Joseph Priestley House in
Northumberland.
*Doctors Wary of Painkiller Prescriptions. National
Public Radio "Morning Edition" February 12, 2004
Discusses federal crackdown on doctors alledgedly prescribing too many
painkillers. Focuses on OxyContin.
*'Laughing gas' found in car after fatal crash.
stuff.co.nz - New Zealand February 11, 2004
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2811533a11,00.html
"Cannisters of nitrous oxide...have been found in a car that plunged into
Nelson's Maitai River and police are investigating whether the driver inhaled
the gas before the fatal." Five people were in the car; the driver, Nigel
Palmer, 20, was killed. A number of cannisters were found in the car.
*Wainwright, Martin. The talented Mr. Priestley is
finally honoured at home. The Guardian 9 February 2004
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1143913,00.html
Notes the trend to recognize Priestley's greatness in his native land.
*Headaches affect women more often; Common
remedies may work best to alleviate pain. Kaleidoscope [University of Alabama at
Birmingham] February 3, 2004, 38(5):3
Discusses types of headaches and possible triggers.
*Dareini, Ali Akbar. Iran's Khatami cancels
meeting; Vows back pain won't hamper election fight. Birmingham News February 1,
2004, 14A
From the Associated Press. "President Mohammad Khatami, suffering severe
back pain, called of an emergency Cabinet meeting Saturday that was to dealt
with Iran's deepening crisis over parliamentary elections."
*Pearce, Jeremy. Dr. Gertie F. Marx, a
Pioneer in Her Specialty, Dies at 91. New York Times January 29, 2004
Brief review of Dr. Marx's life and career.
*FDA: Tylenol, painkiller misuse can be
deadly. CNN January 23, 2004
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/01/23/painkiller.risks.ap/index.html
"Over-the-counter painkillers work well for most people, but ignoring the
directions and misusing them can result in severe, even lethal, side effects,
says a new government campaign aimed at educating patients.
*Thieves Steal Laughing Gas Tanks From Dentist's
Office. ClickOnDetroit.com January 22, 2004
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2786998/detail.html
"Police concerned local teens will use nitrous oxide as recreational
drug." Two tanks were taken from the office in Clinton Township.
*In Surgery and Awake-When Anaesthesia
Fails January 22, 2004
http://tv2.nzoom.com/tv2_detail/0,2561,249784-318-323,00.html
Broadcast on New Zealand's TV2 of a 2002 U.S. documentary that featured Dr.
Peter Sebel and cases from Emory University as well as some from Melbourne,
Australia.
*Magicians want nitrous oxide to disappear
from magic shop. The Press [Christchurch, New Zealand] January 21, 2004
Castle of Magic on Columbo Street is selling cannisters of nitrous oxide.
*LeSure, Elizabeth. Best-selling "The First Wives Club" author Oliva Goldsmith dies. Newsday 16 January 2004 Goldsmith died January 15,apparently from anesthesia complications during plastic surgery; she was in a coma for several days before she died. Her death was widely reported in the press via this Associated Press obituary and other stories.
*Sauer, Rachel. Buried alive: The Mackle
case. Palm Beach Post January 11, 2004
Describes case of Barbara Jane Mackle, a 20-year-old Emory University student
who was kidnapped in December, 1968, and buried alive for 83 hours. Her
kidnappers used chloroform to make her unconscious before burial. Mackle
co-authored the 1971 book _83 Hours Till Dawn_ about her case. One of her
kidnappers, Gary Steven Krist, became a physician in Indiana [see an ABC News
story November 15, 2002, at http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/doctor021115.html?partner=earthlink
]
2003
*Impax gets OK for generic OxyContin. Birmingham New
December 25, 2003, 5G.
Purdue Pharma LP, maker of OxyContin, is suing to prevent Impax and other
companies given generic approval by the FDA from marketing their version.
*Brain-Damaged Girl Sues Alleged Nitrous
Seller; Sheriff: Investigations Have Not Linked Crash to Nitrous Use.
WPBFChannel.com [West Palm Beach, Florida] December 11, 2003
http://www.thewpbfchannel.com/news/2698903/detail.html
Suit says Jamie Cook and friend Priya Bhaskar bought "whippets" or
cartridges and paraphenalia to inhale the gas at Gold Coast Video for $40 just
prior to the car accident. See also Johnson, Akilah. West Boca video store sued
after teen buys nitrous oxide in car crash. Florida Sun-Sentinal December 11,
2003 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pwhippet11dec11,0,4337247.story?coll=sfla-news-palm
*Orr, J. Scott. A growing market offers addictive
drugs online. Birmingham News December 8, 2003, 1D-2D
Describes the online black market for such painkillers as Lortab, Ultram and
Oxy-Contin as well as other prescription medications. Accompanied by article
"Six prescription drugs ordered over Internet; all filled but one"
(p.2D).
*Drug use Poses a Serious Threat to the
Nation. IsraelNationalNews.com December 7, 2003
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=53999
"In the study was conducted in 12 academic institutions nationwide, 27.3%
admit to having tried hashish and marijuana, 4.5% cocaine and heroine, 6.4% with
`drug substitutes' such as laughing gas, and 1.2% with poisonous plants."
*Irvine, Martha. Chronic daily headaches take toll
on teens. Birmingham News December 1, 2003, 1D-2D
Profiles Rachel Gohmann, a college freshman from Minnesota, whose headaches
caused her to miss more than 100 days of her senior year in high school; Abigail
Rey, a sixteen-year-old in Seattle, Washington; and their physicians Drs.
Michael Cutrer and Sheena Aurora.
*Irvine, Martha. Doctors take aim at
'chronic daily headache' problem. If left untreated, condition may increase in
severity. Huntsville Times November 22, 2003, A11
Profiles college student Rachel Gohmann and other sufferers of CDH, migraines or
tension headaches that occur 15 or more days per month. Quotes from Drs. Michael
Cutrer [Mayo Clinic], Sheena Aurora [Swedish Medical Center of Seattle], Dr.
Jack Gladstein [Pediatric Headache Clinic, University of Maryland,
Baltimore].
*Large, Elizabeth. Prevention also can be
cure for lower-back pain. Birmingham News November 17, 2003, 1D-2D
Profiles patient Ellen Webb and Dr. Aleksander Curcin.
*Owen, Frank. The DEA's War on Pain Doctors. Village Voice November 5-11, 2003 http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0345/owen.php
Describes Drug Enforcement Administration's activites related to prosecution of physicians it considers overprescribing OxyContin and other narcotic painkillers. Cases discussed include those of Dr. William Hurwitz and Dr. Cecil Knox in Virginia and Dr. Deborah Bordeaux in South Carolina.
*Nano, Stephanie. Hurrying through Harry
causes 'Hogwarts headaches.' KnoxNews [Knoxville, Tennessee] 30 October
2003
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/books/article/0,1406,KNS_306_2387039,00.html
Associated Press story about the letter Dr. Howard J. Bennett of Washington,
D.C., published in the _New England Journal of Medicine_ about headaches caused
by reading the Harry Potter books too fast. See also Williams, Ian R.
"Heavy Reading." New York Times November 6, 2003
*Fleischauer, Eric. Pain, pills &
persecution; Doctors: Patient care losing to war on drugs. Decatur [Alabama]
Daily October 26, 2003
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/031026/pain.shtml
Discusses problems with OxyContin and other narcotic painkiller subscriptions in
Alabama. See also part 2: http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/031027/pain.shtml
*Coupland, Robin M. Incapacitating chemical
weapons: a year after the Moscow theatre siege. Lancet 362:1346, October 25,
2003
Commentary on the Russian use of a gas believed to have been made from an opioid
of the fentanyl family and perhaps another anesthetic on rebels holding hostages
in October, 2002. Argues that despite ethical concerns a medical perspective
should be included in the debates over the use of such weapons. Thirteen
references.
*Juneau men arrested in Oxycontin bust.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner october 23, 2003 http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,l413,113~26794~1716465,00.html
The two men had a package of 543 tablets of Oxycontin. Authorities were
investigating distribution of the drug from California to Alaska by mail.
*Ashley, Beth. Putting life on hold. Marin
[California] Independent Journal October 23, 2003
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24409~1695758,00.html
Profile of chronic headache sufferers in a support groups organized some years
ago by Marin County resident Judy Garland.
*Kahn, Chris. Jury to decide fate of doctor
accused in OxyContin deaths. Fredericksburg.com October 23, 2003 http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/apmethods/apstory?urlfeed=D7UBFA00.xml
Describes case of Dr. Cecil Byron Knox III, a former paid speaker for Purdue
Pharma, who along with his nurse Beverly Gale Boone, has been on trial in
Roanoke, Virginia, under a 69-count indictment related to Knox's practice at
Southwest Virginia Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation P.C.
*Anaesthetists celebrate World Ether Day.
Malta Indepndent Daily October 20, 2003 http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/newsview.asp?id=21662
Describes mention of Morton's October 1846 Boston demonstration in _The Malta
Times_ of December 22, 1846, and the March 9, 1847, report in the _Times_ of the
local use of ether by British naval surgeon Thomas Spencer Wells. See also
"Anaesthetists celebrate today the World Ether Day." di-ve.com October
16, 2003 http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=111015&pid=1
*McElroy, Gary. Court battle stemming from
botched 1993 operation ends. Judge: Perjury indictment against operating room
nurse issued too late. Mobile Register 19 October 2003
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/
In 1993 a 61-year-old Mobile women had a gall bladder operation at Springhill
Memorial Hospital. During the procedure she was deprived of oxygen for several
minutes, never regained consciousness and died several months later. Nurse
anesthetist Wayne Zimlich, who monitored the patient, along with other medical
personnel and the St. Paul Fire and Marine insurance company were sued in 1995
by the victim's family. The jury in the case awarded the family $22.5 million.
In 1997 Zimlich sued St. Paul and three company officers, claiming that despite
his admission of fault in the case to company officials, the company had refused
to settle. Zimlich also claimed he had perjured himself during the trial at the
urging of company officials and their attorney. He won that case, but was
awarded only $15,000. Subsequently, the state filed seven criminal perjury
charges against Zimlich, St. Paul, its attorney and three officers, and a
physician. All perjury charges except the one against Zimlich resulted in
acquital or dismissal. A judge found Zimlich quilty, but that finding was voiced
by the statute of limitations. Zimlich practices today at a north Alabama
hospital.
*Harris, Gardiner. Two Agencies to Fight
Online Narcotics Sales. New York Times October 18, 2003
Notes plans by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug
Administration to crack down on the problem of online sales of narcotics,
including several painkillers such as hydrocodone.
*Hines, Michael. OxyContin use brings
stigma, fear. Witchita Falls Times Record 16 October 2003 http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn/local_sports/article/0,1891,TRN_5788_2351194,00.html
Discusses legal uses of OxyContin, some local patients and physicians involved
in those legal uses, and the medical and social drawbacks of those legal
uses.
*Hahn, Tim. OxyContin robberies alarm
pharmacists. Erie Times-News 16 October 2003 http://goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031016/FRONTPAGE/110160432
Describes two robberies in three days at a Wal-Mart in Corry and a CVS store in
Erie. Article also discusses legal use of OxyContin, other recent area cases
involving the drug, and problems nationally with OxyContin theft and abuse.
*OxyContin a Problem in Mississippi. WLBT-TV
14 October 2003 http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=1482232&nav=2CSfIWrc
Frank Melton, Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, notes that
OxyContin is a "substantial problem" in Mississippi. Dr. Richard L.
Ogletree of the University Medical Center Department of Pharmacy Serrvices
observes that OxyContin "is a perfectly safe drug, if taken as prescribed,
but it can be lethal if it is abused... He says many other drugs are much easier
to abuse than OxyContin."
*McDougall, Dan. New claims in missing girl
case. The Scotsman October 13, 2003 http://www.news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1132762003
Describes case of 12-year-old Moira Anderson, who disappeared on February 23,
1957. James Gallogley recently claimed that his friend Alex Gartshore had
kidnapped the girl and sedated her with chloroform. See also Tanya Thompson,
"Has confession solved a murder?" The Scotsman October 21, 2003 http://www.news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1160922003
*Fleischauer, Eric. 'Hillbilly heroin'
abuse exploding; Decatur police say OxyContin a 'big' problem.' Decatur
[Alabama] Daily News 12 October 2003
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/031012/drug.shtml
Discusses pharmacy robberies and doctor-shopping associated with OxyContin and
hydrocodone abuse in the north Alabama city.
*Liptak, Adam. Critics Say Execution Drug
May Hide Suffering. New York Times 7 October 2003 http://www.nytimes.com/
Drug discussed is pancuronium bromide.
*Fields, Helen. Health hazards of
office-based surgery. U.S. News and World Report 135(11):54, October 6,
2003
Focus on hazards identified in an article by anesthesiologist Dr. Hector Vila at
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, and
published in a recent issue of _Archives of Surgery_.
*SLU settles false billings claims for $1.8
million. STLToday.com 1 October 2003
http://www.stltoday.com/
Associated Press story noting settlement in civil case involving St. Louis
University and billing practices for surgery and anesthesia services at the
university hospital and Glennon Children's Hospital between January 1994 and
December 2001.
*Hsu, Charlotte. Ketamine reported missing
from UCLA pediatric clinic. UCLA Daily Bruin
25 September 2003 http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=25363
Describes theft earlier in September of 20 vials of ketamine from the
university's pediatric dentistry clinic.
*Papanikolas, Tonya. New Technology Makes
Surgical Anesthesia Easier. KBCI-TV [Boise, Idaho] 25 September 2003
http://www.2online.com/
Describes BIS monitor technology. Quotes Dr. Dennis Page and John Kaiser [of the
Saltzer Medical Group].
*Wardle, Amanda. Court overturns anesthesia
case. Nashville City Paper 19 September 2003 http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/
State Court of Appeals ruled that a Circuit Court ruling issued early in 2002 in
favor of Dr. Daniel Scokin of Nashville's Memorial Anesthesiology Associaties
was made in error. Sandra Hensley and her husband had filed suit claiming that
during a hysterectomy in January, 2000, Dr. Scokin's care worsened her TMJ
problems. The appeals court ruling means that the case will go to trial.
*Fisher, Jean P. Blue Cross makes deal for
anesthesia; Contract ends 16-month dispute. Raleigh News-Observer 13 September
2003
http://newsobserver.com/business/story/2863431p-2641663c.html
The dispute involved Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Critical
Health Systems of North Carolina, the only anesthesia practice covering four
Wake County hospitals. Critical Health Systems "dropped out of the Blue
Cross network in May 2002 after it was unable to reach a new contract agreement
with the insurance company."
*Kahn, Chris. Defense: Doctor only tried to
ease pain. Birmingham News September 11, 2003, 6B
Associated Press story about trial in Roanoke, Virginia, of Dr. Cecil Byron
Knox, "a pain specialist," facing numerous drug, fraud, conspiracy and
other charges in connection with his dispensing of OxyContin.
*Spears, Valarie Honeycutt. 14 burglaries
at Lexington animal clinics. Lexington Herald-Leader August 22, 2003 http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/6590719.htm
The burglaries took place over the last six months at Lexington, Kentucky,
clinics. Money, "painkillers and a popular party drug called Ketamine or
'Special K.'" The articles notes that "Lexington appears to have been
hit harder than other U.S. cities where veterinary clinic burglaries have been
reported, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association." Also
notes the prominent veterinary clinic break-in scene in the _Terminator 3: Rise
of the Machines_ film released earlier in the summer.
*University Dedicates Largest Nurse
Anesthesia Facility in U.S. KXAS-TV [Dallas-Fortworth, Texas] August 21, 2003
http://www.nbc5i.com/education/2423336/detail.html
Brief article about Texas Wesleyan University's new $2.4 million facility in
Fort Worth.
*Krug, Nora. Jack Latham, 95, who developed
devices to aid blood transfer, dies. New York Times August 18, 2003.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/18/obituaries/18LATH.html
Latham, who lived in Jamaica Plain,
Massachusetts, died August 5. "In the early 1950's, Mr.
Latham...collaborated with Edwin J. Cohn, a professor of physical chemistry at
Harvard, to perfect a device Dr. Cohn had invented that used centrifugal force
to separate blood into its components..." This technology pioneered by
Latham and others greatly improved blood transfusion methods. Gives a brief
overview of his life and career.
*Vandy's School of Nursing inks early
interview pact with MTSA. Nashville Business Journal August 13, 2003
http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2003/08/11/daily16.html
Notes that graduates of Vanderbilt's Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program will
be offered early interviews for admission to the Middle Tennessee School of
Anesthesia's Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program.
*Lyons, Kevin. Anesthesia student options
expanding. Fort Worth Star-Telegram August 10, 2003
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/6502690.htm
Describes Texas Wesleyan University's nurse anesthesia program on the eve of the
dedication of a new building for the program on August 21. TWU is the largest
nurse anesthesia program in the U.S. with some 320 students and one of only five
such programs in Texas.
Charton, Scott. Ex-nurse jailed in 10 VA deaths free
after test fails. Lawyer for Missouri man blasts 'junk science' for charges.
Huntsville Times August 7, 2003, A7
From the Associated Press. Richard Williams had been charged in 1992 with using
succinylcholine to kill 10 patients.
*Ramirez, Jose. Peter Safar, 'The Father of
C.P.R.,' Dies at 79. New York Times August 6, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/06/national/06SAFA.html
Gives a brief overview of Dr. Safar's life and pioneering work with
cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques. Dr. Safar died August 3. See also
Schlesinger, Allison. CPR Pioneer Dr. Peter Safar Dies at 79. Associated Press
story http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030804/D7SNE8EO0.html
Dr. Safar's faculty biography at the University of Pittsburgh can be found at http://www.ccm.upmc.edu/archive/faculty/bios/safar.html
*Parks, Dave. Holiday surgery horror;
Anesthesia for a Christmas-week overbite operation ends in teenager's death.
Birmingham News July 29, 2003, 1D-2D
Describes the case of 17-year-old Brandi Timmons, who died December 23, 1998, at
Baptist East Medical Center in Montgomery. In June, 2003, the case resulted in a
Montgomery jury's judgement of $14.5 million against anesthesiologist Dr.
William Ware and nurse anesthetist Lil Hayes.
*Parks, Dave. Patients should be aware of
anesthesia's risk factors. Birmingham News July 29, 2003, 1D-2D
Discusses risks of anesthesia. Includes quotes from Dothan anesthesiologists Dr.
Frederick W. Ernst and Dr. Jeffrey S. Plagenhoef.
*Norwood, Stacey. Lawyer: Man accused of
drug ring has 'immaculate record.' Birmingham News July 27, 2003, 19A
Christopher Shane Oglesby, 31, was charged earlier in the week with operating a
forged prescription ring for OxyContin and other drugs.
*Norwood, Stacey. 'Elaborate' drug ring
uncovered. Birmingham News July 23, 2003
A woman and two men were arrested in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover; they were
accused of operating a forged-prescription drug ring dealing mostly in Oxycontin.
*Samford's nurse anesthesia program
receives accreditation. Birmingham Business Journal July 14, 2003
http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2003/07/14/daily2.html
Brief article describing accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse
Anesthesia Education Programs of the program at Samford University's Ida V.
Moffett School of Nursing. The 10-month old Samford program is one of about 90
accredited programs in the U.S. and two in Alabama.
*Delinski, Bernie. Years later, man follows
God's call to become priest. Florence [Alabama] Times Daily July 7, 2003 http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030707/NEWS/307070323/1011
Profiles Dr. Patrick Forsythe of Tuscumbia, who is expected to be ordained as a
Catholic priest on June 5, 2004. Dr. Forsythe was born in Ireland, moved to
England, returned to Ireland for medical school and came to the United States
around 1960 for an internship in Youngstown, Ohio. By 1963 he was chief of
anesthesia at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. After a long
career in anesthesiology, he decided to become a priest.
*Former nurse pleads guilty to tampering
with syringes. Mobile Register July 4, 2003.
Jane Clements was accused of stealing Demerol from 23 syringes at Hale County
Hospital in Greene County, Alabama. Previously she had worked for several years
at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa.
*Carroll, Linda. Anesthesia May Be Fatal in
Those with Rare Disorder. Reuters Health via Yahoo! News July 2, 2003
http://news.yahoo.com/
Discusses the problem nitrous oxide can cause in patients with a rare metabolic
disorder, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency [MTHFR]. Interviews Dr.
Kirk Hogan, associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin
in Madison and co-author of an article on the problem published in the New
England Journal of Medicine 349:45-50, 2003.
*Fisher, Jean P. Blue Cross offers and
olive branch. Raleigh News-Observer July 2, 2003 http://newsobserver.com/business/story/2663699p-2470080c.html
Describes a temporary truce between the insurance carrier in North Carolina and
Critical Health Systems over the way anesthesia services are paid at all three
Wake County hospitals. For some two years Blue Cross has paid its members
directly since Critical Health dropped out of its provider network. Since
Critical Health was the only anesthesia provider in Wake County, Blue Cross had
to cover its services but Critical Health complained that not all payments to
members were being paid to Critical Health.
*Carroll, Linda. Anesthesia may be fatal in
those with rare disorder. Yahoo! News July 2, 2003.
http://news.yahoo.com/
From Reuters Health. Describes problems nitrous oxide can cause in patients with
a rare metabolic disorder, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficienty (MTHFR).
Report published in New England Journal of Medicine. A "co-author, Dr. Kirk
Hogan, an associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin
in Madison...[notes] 'I think there have been fewer than 50 children reported to
have it...'"
*Fopay, Dave. 'Mad Gasser' author points finger at
'brilliant' chemistry student. Journal Gazette-Times Courier [Mattoon and
Charleston, Illinois] June 30, 2003
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2003/06/30/news/news04.txt
In September 1944 several residents of Mattoon, Illinois, reported smelling a
sickly sweet odor followed by such symptoms as nausea and numbness of the arms
and legs. The incidents over ten days received wide-spread publicity and have
been frequently cited since as a classic example of mass hysteria. Author Scott
Maruna has conducted new research and believes he has identified the individual
who became known as the "mad gasser" or "mad anesthetist."
Between February 2003 and July 2004 this newspaper published several articles on
this case, most related to Maruna's book, _The Mad Gasser of Mattoon: Dispelling
the Hysteria_.
*'Special K' loophole impedes battle. CBS
Evening News June 30, 2003
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/30/eveningnews/main561024.shtml
The loophole concerns abuse of ketamine. "The penalty for having small
amounts is negligible, so police often confiscate the drug, but let the users
go."
*Parks, Dave. Patient's 'face just
ignited'in surgery. Montclair operating room fire prompts alert. Birmingham News
June 26, 2003, 4B
Describes the case of Melanie Allen, who awoke in an operating room in early
June at Baptist Montclair Medical Center "with her head ablaze." Story
by Kit R. Roane, "'I'm On Fire...'" appeared in U.S. News and World
Report [August 11 issue?] and on http://news.yahoo.com
*Jury awards $14.5 million in surgery
death. Birmingham News June 26, 2003, 2B
In Montgomery, Alabama, "The two-week trial ended Monday with jurors
deciding in favor of Johnnie Timmons, whose 17-year-old daughter Brandi never
woke up after undergoing the routine procedure ["elective surgery to
correct an overbite"] at Baptist East Medical Center in 1998. Timmons filed
a wrongful death suit against anesthesiologist Dr. William Ware, nurse Lil Hayes
and Anesthesiology and Pain Management of Montgomery. Ware was a partner in the
medical group, which has since disbanded."
*Schmid, Randolph E. Some people do feel pain more, brain study finds. Birmingham News June 24, 2003, 1D Associated Press story. Reports a study by Robert C. Coghill, Wake Forest Univesity Baptist Medical Center, lead investigator. Paper published in online edition of the _Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences_.
*Maze, Jonathan. Anesthesia services
negotiated; Roper-St. Francis signs letter of intent indicating it plans to
split contract. Charleston Post and Courier June 17, 2003
http://www.charleston.net/stories/061703/bus_17roper.html
Roper-St. Francis Healthcare will divide anesthesia services at its two
hospitals between Anesthesia Associates of Charleston [South Carolina] and a
North Carolina group, Anesthesia Management Solutions [AmSol]. The Anesthesia
Associates group currently provides 80 percent of anesthesiologists for the
hospitals. The move followed "months of sometimes contentious negotiations
with Anesthesia Associates." See also "Contract spat leaves Charleston
patients without anesthesiologists." The State [Charleston, South Carolina]
June 24, 2003 http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/6155891.htm
an Associated Press story which describes Anesthesia Associates' refusal to
cover cases except emergencies.
*Family believes anesthesia killed
daughter. nbc13.com [Birmingham, Alabama] June 13, 2003; updated June 16, 2003
http://www.nbc13.com/nbc13investigators/2270025/detail.html
Describes the story by NBC Channel 13's Kathy Times on dental anesthesia and the
death March 6 of Ashley Adams, 22, in a dental office in Virginia. Quotes Dr.
Ann Still, incoming president of the Alabama State Society of Anesthesiologists.
*Medical board considers anesthesia
guidelines. nbc13.com [Birmingham, Alabama] June 16, 2003
http://www.nbc13.com/nbc13investigators/2273655/detail.html
Describes the story by NBC Channel 13's Kathy Times on dental anesthesia and new
regulations proposed by Alabama's medical board in the wake of the death of a
patient in a dental office in Virginia in March.
*Fackelmann, Kathleen. Painkillers don't
slow Alzheimer's, study finds. But drugs could be useful if given early. U.S.A.
Today June 4, 2003, 7D
Describes study published in June 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association. The drugs involved are anti-inflammatory agents Aleve and Vioxx.
*Jailed Graves still expects vindication;
Doctor sentenced in OxyContin deaths finds solace in religion while awaiting
fraud trial. Pensacola News-Journal May 20, 2003.
Dr. James Graves, 56, of Pace, Florida, was sentenced in March 2002 to nearly 63
years in prison after being convicted in four deaths resulting from overdoses of
OxyContin and other drugs. [See also "Doctor in OxyContin deaths seeking
vidication," Associated Press, May 20, 2003; and "Doctor in OxyContin
deaths seeking vindication," Southwest Florida Herald Tribune, May 22, 2003
*Kalb, Claudia. Taking a new look at pain.
Newsweek May 19, 2003, pp 44-52
Illustrated article covers recent pain research and therapies.
*Underwood, Anne. Fibromyalgia: not all in
your head. Newsweek May 19, 2003, p 53.
"Thanks to brain-scan technology, this 'imaginary' ailment of 6 million
people is proving to be very real."
*Springen, Karen. Small patients, big pain.
Newsweek May 19, 2003, pp 54-61
"Ten million American children chronic or recurrent pain. Treating them
poses special challenges. Now doctors and researchers are learning how to
help."
*Nuland, Sherwin. 'Where Doesn't It Hurt?'
Newsweek May 19, 2003, p62
"Human pain has physiological roots, but also spiritual, cultural and
emotional ones. The author of 'How We Die' muses on it nearly poetic complexity.
*255 kilograms of ketamine seized at
international airport. China Post May 14, 2003 http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/detail.asp?onNews=1&GRP=D&id=19020
Reports arrest of animal feed importer Chang Chia-yung of Taipei at Chang Kai-shek
International Airport as he was returning from Australia. If convicted, Chang
faces execution for drug trafficking.
*Huggins, Charnicia E. Chronic severe pain
common among patients in drug rehab. Reuters Health Information May 13,
2003
Reports a study by Dr. Andrew Rosenblum of the National Development and Research
Institutes, Inc., of New York and published in the May 14 issue of the Journal
of the American Medical Association.
*Thornton, William. Two sons, 2 others
indicted in death. Anniston doctor fatally shot in 2002 at Springville home.
Birmingham News May 13, 2003, 1B, 4B.
On July 30, 2002, Dr. John William Bryant, 56, was killed at the Springville
house of his estranged wife. Authorities charge that elder son Matthew Scott
Bryant, his younger brother James, Aaron Harris and another man murdered the
physician. Bryant was shot five times in the back, and Harris was found with a
knife in his upper chest. Bryant was an anesthesiologist in Anniston, and at one
time a faculty member in the anesthesiology department at the University of
Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. [See also Thornton, William. Bond
denied for slain doctor's elder son, shooter. Birmingham News May 20, 2003, 1B,
6B]
*Kunkle, Fredrick. Evidence supports rape
accusation, prosecuter argues. Washington Post May 2, 2003, B02
Bethesda dentist David E. Fuster was accused of raping a 15 year-old patient
while she was sedated with nitrous oxide. See also Kunkle, Frederick. "Md.
dentist convicted of raping teen". Washington Post May 8, 2003, B04; Pak,
Ellyn. "Dentist convicted of raping patient may have fled. Gazette [Maryland]May
21, 2003. "Police search for dentist convicted of raping patient."
Washington Post May 22, 2003 [After his conviction, Fuster had been released on
bond pending his July 10 sentencing.]
*Wax, Paul M.; Charles E. Becker; and
Steven C. Curry. Unexpected "Gas" Casualties in Moscow: A Medical
Toxicology Perspective. Annals of Emergency Medicine 41(5)700-705, May 2003
Article published 6 months after the gas attack concludes that "the
available evidence strongly suggests that a combination of a potent aerosolized
fentanyl derivative, such as carfentanil, and an inhalational anesthetic, such
as halothane, was used." Thirty-three references.
*Ebert, Michael. Suffolk Cop Arrested for
Selling Ketamine. Suffolk [N.Y.] Life April 30, 2003
"Finding himself on the opposite end of the law, a Suffolk County police
officer was arrested last Thursday for selling two vials of ketamine in a gas
station parking lot near the Long Island Expressway in Holbrook." The
32-year-old officer, Thomas Furrer, was a 10-year veteran of the force.
*Choo, Johnson. 12 nabbed in drug busts,
including girl trafficking in Ketamine. Channel News Asia April 30, 2003 http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/38718/1/.html
A total of 133 packets of ketamine were seized in the two drug busts in
Singapore.
*Danborn, Joe. Former nurse charged with
stealing painkiller. Mobile Register April 29, 2003
Jane Clements, former employee at Hale county Hospital in Greensboro, Alabama,
was indicted by a federal grand jury in Mobile for stealing Demerol from 23
syringes and replacing it with sterile water.
*Parks, Dave. New pain drug gives dogs
relief. Birmingham News April 28, 2003, 2D
"Novartis Animal Health is marketing a new pain medication for dogs that is
like the human drug Celebrex."
*Moyers, Scott. House bill to license anesthesia assistants causes debate. Southeast Missourian April 24, 2003 Describes the "turf war" between physicians and nurses overs AAs. Missouri House had already passed the bill and Senate was to consider it. [See also Anesthesia bill prompts debate among health care providers. Jefferson City News Tribune April 1, 2003 http://newstribune.com/stories/040103/sta_0401030043.asp ]
*Ostrov, Barbara Feder. Boy, 8, suffers
burns in surgery. Tube catches fire in tonsillectomy. Mercury News April 23,
2003 http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/5695957.htm
Boy was having tonsillectomy at San Jose Medical Center on April 18. April 23
Associated Press story is on WSB-TV Atlanta WWW site at http://www.wsbtv.com/news/2153609.html
among others.
*Hollis, Mark. Bills allow anesthesia
assistants. South Florida Sun-Sentinel April 16, 2003
Covers bills in the Florida legislature that would authorize licensing of
anesthesia assistants. See also Nawalanic, John. Don't weaken the standards for
anesthesia providers. My View. Tallahassee Democrat April 11, 2003
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opinion/5605229.htm
See also Wagner, Rob. Licensed
anesthesiologist assistants help access to medical care. My View. Tallahassee
Democrat April 15, 2003 http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opinion/5632500.htm
See also Royse, David. Legislature: House committee OKs anesthesia bill. Naples
Daily News [Associated Press story] http://www.naplesnews.com/03/04/florida/d923265a.htm
*Christensen, Thor. Papa may have a brand
new bag; But few buy his music as James Brown fights health, family, peer
issues. Birmingham News April 8, 2003, 2E
Describes a lawsuit by Brown's daughters in which they allege "the singer
vowed to cut his daughters out of his will after they committed him to a
psychiatric hospital for an addiction to painkillers in 1998." Specific
drug or drugs not mentioned.
*Underwood, Anne. Shining a light on pain.
Newsweek April 7, 2003, pp 64-65
Discusses use of red and infrared light-emitting diodes in treatment of
pain.
*'Sopranos' player arrested in mob drug
sweep. Newsday April 3, 2003
Associated Press story. Actor Richard Maldone was one of 45 individuals
arrested; drugs included ketamine and Vicodin. [see also Guart, Al. 'Mafia' drug
bust. New York Post April 3, 2003 http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/72643.htm
]
*Study: Drug lowers sickle cell deaths.
Birmingham News April 2, 2003, 4A
The drug, hydroxyurea, is most often used in cancer and AIDS patients, but also
to treat the pain associated with sickle cell. The study, co-authored by Dr.
Duane Bonds of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and published in
the current issue of JAMA, notes that over a nine-year period sickle tell
patients receiving this drug were 40 percent less likely to die.
*Decreasing postoperative pain after
thoracotomy. New suturing technique shows promise. UAB Insight 15(2):24, spring
2003
Describes study of intracostal suturing by cardiothoracic surgeon Robert J.
Cerfolio, M.D., of the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham.
*Fighting the pain of herpes zoster. UAB
Insight 15(2):11-12, spring 2003
Describes treatment options for shingles.
*Dreyfuss, Michael. The War against
Terrorism Collides with Anesthesia. Anesthesiology News 29(3):46-47, March
2003
Describes use of a gas, probably containing carfentanil, by Russian special
forces overcome Chechen rebels who had taken 750 people hostage in a Moscow
theater in late October, 2002. As of November 19, 41 terrorists and 128 hostages
were known to have died.
*Katagi, Kellee. Smart relief: not all
painkillers are created equal. Know what to take when--and why. Ski Magazine
March/April 2003, 122-123
Covers mostly over-the-counter remedies. Has sidebars on "The Natural
Way" and "Inflammation Fighters."
*Boodman, Sandra G. Consumers face baffling
choice of OTC painkillers. Birmingham News March 10, 2003, 1D, 3D
Describes problems associated with such painkillers. Notes that 160,000
Americans end up in emergency rooms each year and about 16,000 die from
complications with OTC painkillers.
*Ray, Darryal. Pell City man faces drug
charges. Birmingham News March 1, 2003, 13A.
Richard E. Snow, 47, was arrested on various drug and other charges; drugs
included Diazepam and OxyContin.
*Painkiller stolen from pharmacy.
Birmingham News February 27, 2003, 2B.
Brief article about the theft of Dilaudid from the pharmacy at Baptist Princeton
Hospital. See also Abrams, Vivi, "Suspect charged in pharmacy
robberies." Birmingham News March 1, 2003, 13A. This article notes arrest
of Louis Vaughn Forman, 37, for the hospital robbery and the robberies of a
Walgreens in which OxyContin was taken.
*Loewy, Matias A. ICUs pose occupational
hazard for nurses. Reuters Health February 25, 2003
Describes a Brazilian study by Drs. Benatti and Vera Nishide in which almost
half of the ICU nursing staff reported an occupational accident during the
previous year.
*Pharmacy service sued over dose, death.
Birmingham News February 23, 2003, 15A
Sharla Boykin has sued the University of Alabama at Birmingham pharmacy over a
misfilled prescription for her mother, Evelyn C. Tate. Tate received too much
Roxanol, a morphine sulfate; she took the drug on May 23, 2001, and died two
days later.
*Experimental implant under scalp zaps away
headaches. CNN.com/HEALTH February 18, 2003. http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/02/18/zapping.headaches.ap/index.html
Associated Press story. Describes work by Dr. Sandeep Amin, an anesthesiologist
at Chicago's Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center.
*Connell, Luke. Minor surgery, Major rules.
Some docs argue new plan not enough. Birmingham Post-Herald February 12, 2003,
A1, A3.
Describes work by Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners to draft rules for
surgeries that take place in physicians' offices. Includes quotes from Dr.
Frederick Ernst, Dothan anesthesiologist.
*Marsa, Linda. New treatment in pipeline
for fibromyalgia patients. Birmingham News February 10, 2003, 2D
From the Los Angeles Times. Discusses the drug pregabalin, which may be able to
block nerve signals that cause the pain for fibromyalgia patients.
*Feran, Tom. Jerry Lewis laughing once again after years of pain. Birmingham News January 25, 2003, 1B Describes the pain that comedian Lewis has lived with for years.
*Judge to decide if OxyContin plans will be
released. Birmingham News January 24, 2003, 2D
From the Orlando Sentinel. A Broward County judge is to decide whether to
release Purdue Pharma's marketing plans for the drug.
*Leir, Ronald. Suspended cops indicted on
drug distribution counts. Jersey Journal January 23, 2003 http://www.nj.com/new/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1043320294254811.xml
Among those indicted was Michael Hurley, who sold ketamine to an undercover
officer within 1,000 feet of an elementary school on July 18, 2002.
*FDA warns OxyContin maker on ads. CNN.com/Health
January 23, 2003
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/01/23/oxycontin.fda.ap/index.html
Associated Press story. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Purdue
Pharma that ads it ran in the Journal of the American Medical Association
"grossly overstate" the safety of OxyContin.
*Marcott-Ploy, Aeron. Veterinary-drug abuse
on rise. Marshfield News Herald January 16, 2003
Discusses apparent rising abuse of ketamine in central Wisconsin. See also
Vet-drug abuse on the rise in central Wisconsin. Stevens Point Journal January
20, 2003
*Jauhar, Sandeep. Over-the-Counter
Headache. New York Times Magazine January 12, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/12/magazine/12HEADACHE.html
Discusses headache cycles caused by the use of OTC headache medicine.
*Appalachian communities accept methadone clinics. Birmingham News January 5, 2003 17A. Associated Press story. Notes that at least 10 clinics have opened across the region in towns that previously had none. Openings are an effort to combat OxyContin addictions.
*Palmer, Karen. Private firm aids health-care headaches. Toronto Star January 3, 2003 "Doctors on salary help plug holes at public hospitals. 'We've always, for 20 years, worked within the system." Discusses Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement's use of doctors recruited by Med-Emerg to keep a shortage of anesthesiologists from closing four operating rooms at Toronto's University Health Network.
*Weintraub, Philip S. 30 Million People,
and Jay Leno. ASA Newsletter 67(1):15, 34, January 2003
Notes media appearances of material presented at the ASA annual meeting in
Orlando in October, 2002. Weintraub is ASA Public Relations Manager.
2002
*Downs, Martin F. Ketamine safe way to
sedate kids for medical scan. Reuters Health December 9, 2002
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=1876187
Reports on study by Dr. Thomas Crimi and others at Brookdale University Hospital
in Brooklyn, New York.
*Ingram, Judith. Ex-hostages fret about
their health. Moscow Times December 9, 2002 http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2002/12/09/016.html
Associated Press report. Describes concerns of hostages who survived Moscow
theater use of a fentanyl gas in the rescue operation.
*Myers, Steven Lee. Russians become
litigious: survivors of theater siege sue. New York Times December 6, 2002
A fentanyl gas was used to overpower the Chechen rebels who seized the Moscow
theater.
*Heavy Jail Penalty for Drug
Trafficker in Hong Kong. People's Daily Online December 5, 2002 http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200212/05/eng20021205_108018.shtml
Ketamine was one of the drugs.
*Mallan, Caroline. ORs won't close:
Clement. Toronto Star December 3, 2002
Describes accusation by Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement that anesthetists
connected with the University Health Network are threatening to close operating
rooms as a bargaining tactic to gain salary increases. See also a followup
article: Orwen, Patricia and Richard Brennan. Clement: I'll keep ORs open.
Anesthetists' pay dispute may delay key operations. Toronto Star December 5,
2002
*Shmerling, Robert and Ethan Basch. Options for arthritis pain. Newsweek December 2, 2002, 53.
*Cherkin, Dan; Karen Sherman and David
Eisenberg. Beyond the backache. Newsweek December 2, 2002, 56.
Describes options for back pain treatment.
*Smith, Max. Businessman dies in blast.
Mobile Register December 1, 2002
Describes death of David Ray of Mobile, who died in an explosion while he was
transferring nitrous oxide from one container to another at his auto salvage
business.
*Athanaselis S, Stefanidou M, Karakoukis N,
Koutselinis A. Asphyxial death by ether inhalation and plastic-bag suffocation
instructed by the press and the Internet. Journal of Medical Internet Research
4(3):e18, December 2002 http://www.jmir.org/2002/3/e18/index.htm
The incident, involving a 49-year-old male merchant, occured in Athens,Greece,
in February, 2002.
*Cazzulino, Michelle. Animal drugs on party
scene. Animal drugs on party scene. Sydney Herald Sun November 27, 2002.
Describes a study released by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre;
ketamine is one of the drugs found to be in widespread use.
*Conant, Eve. More questions than answers.
Conspiracy theories fester as Russians struggle to find out why so many hostages
died in last month's theater raid. Newsweek via MSNBC November 23, 2002
http://www.msnbc.com/news/839035.asp
A fentanyl gas was used to overpower the Chechen rebels who seized the Moscow
theater.
*Parker-Pope, Tara. New back pain therapy
has sufferers lifting weights. Birmingam News November 18, 2002, 1D, 2D.
From the Wall Street Journal. The therapy is called aggressive rehabilitation
and involves grueling exercise.
*Altman, Lawrence K. and Todd S. Purdum. In
J.F.K. File, Hidden Illness, Pain and Pills. New York Times November 17,
2002
Describes an article by Robert Dallek appearing in the December Atlantic Monthly
that gives new details about Kennedy's various health problems. Dallek's
research based in large part on his access to medical records of Dr. Janet G.
Travell, J.F.K.'s White House physician. Includes discussion of his back pain,
Travell's injections of procaine as treatments for his back pain, etc. See also
Richard Reeves, "Kennedy's Private Ills" New York Times November 21,
2002
*Dr. Sanjay Gupta: take your medicine--by a
patch. CNN.com/HEALTH November 15, 2002 http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/11/15/otsc.transdermal.patches/index.html
Includes mention of narcotic pain patch. Dr. Gupta is CNN's regular health
correspondent.
*Cotts, Cynthia. It's a gas, gas, gas.
Fentanyl story quietly absorbed by media. Village Voice November 13-19,
2002
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0246/cotts.php
Covers gas used in October on Chechen rebels and their hostages in a Moscow
theater. Mentions use of fentanyl gas by Israeli Mossad agents in 1997.
*Higgins, Michael. Study: No benefit in
anti-pain bracelet. Popular Q-Ray sold as pain relief device. Birmingham News
November 13, 2002, 4A
From the Chicago Tribune. Study conducted by Peter O'Brien, Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville.
*14-year-olds treated for OxyContin ingestion. Birmingham News November 11, 2002, 2B. The three girls were students at Alexandra High School.
*Enserink, Martin and Richard Stone. Questions swirl over knockout gas used in hostage crisis. Science 298:1150-1151, November 8, 2002 News item discussing debate over gas used by Russian troups against the Chechen rebels.
*Wong, Dawn. Ketamine becomes latest 'cool'
street drug. StraitsTimes [Singapore] November 6, 2002 http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,1531,00.html
"The young, teenage girls in particular, are abandoning Ecstasy for the
white powder, which has serious side effects."
*Chua, Julian. S$20,000 worth of synthetic
drugs seized. Channel NewsAsia [Singapore]November 6, 2002 http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/23816/1/.html
Included 200 grams of ketamine.
*Researchers find solicitous spouse can worsen pain. Birmingham News November 5, 2002, 4B. See also Hotz, Robert Lee. A pain in the spouse. Los Angeles Times November 5, 2002
*Armstrong, Metro. Dangers of 'club drugs'
revealed. Southern Illinoisan November 4, 2002.
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/rednews/2002/11/05/build/local/LOC001.html
Drugs discussed inlucde ketamine.
*Fischer, Joannie. A pain in the face.
Millions suffer from a malady in the dark recesses about the eyes. U.S. News and
World Report 133(17):54-55, November 4, 2002
Describes chronic sinusitis sufferers.
*Schiermeier, Quirin. Hostage deaths put gas weapons
in spotlight. Nature 420:7, November 2002
News item describing hostage crisis at Moscow's Muscial Theatre. Notes that gas
may have been a fentanyl derivative and halothane combination.
*Pain aids tied to high blood pressure.
Study suggests acetaminophen, ibuprofen may elevate risk. MSNBC News October 27,
2002 [Associated Press story]
http://www.msnbc.com/news/826815.asp
*Jiang, Jenny. Police seize $200,000 worth
of designer drugs. Boston Globe October 26, 2002, B7
Drugs seized included ketamine and various painkillers.
*Kirby, Brendan. Woman gets 30 years for
pharmacy robbery. Mobile Register October 26, 2002.
Angela Goodman and her husband Eric stole 40 OxyContin pills from an Orange
Beach, Alabama, pharmacy in 2001. Eric Goodman received a 20-year sentence.
*Byrd, Robbie. State begins lethal
injections. Atmore [Alabama] Advance October 24, 2002
http://www.atmoreadvance.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt
Discusses use of pancuronium bromide and sodium phiopental.
*Comarow, Avery. Under the (virtual) knife.
Medical simulators hone skills so doctors can do the right thing in a crisis.
U.S. News and World Report 137(15):65-66, October 21, 2002
Describes such simulators and Simantha, developed by Medical Simulation
Corporation of Englewood, Colorado. Includes quotes from Dr. Steve Howard,
anesthesiologist at VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California.
*Lewis, Julia. Triangle Veterinary Clinics
Report Attempted Thefts of Ketamine. WRAL.com [Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville,
North Carolina] October 16, 2002 http://www.wral.com/news/1723741/detail.html
"Animal sedative used as recreational drug."
*Police Say Animal Tranquilizer Reason for
Three Break-ins. WVTD-TV Eyewitness News 11 [Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, North
Carolina] October 16, 2002
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/101602_NW_tranquilizerrobberies.html
Associated Press story. The robberies, in June, September, and October, were at
a Carrboro animal hospital.
*Landers, Susan J. Labels on common OTC
pain remedies to include heightened risks. American Medical News 45(38):25, 28,
October 14, 2002
"Warnings of liver toxicity and gastrointestinal bleeding could likely gain
more attention from patients." Discusses U.S. Food and Drug Administration
advisory about new labels for OTC pain relievers.
*Gorman, Christine and Alice Park. The New
Science of Headaches. Time October 7, 2002
Cover story: "Preventing Headaches." "As doctors learn more about
our throbbing heads, they are uncovering amazingly effective ways to kill the
pain before it starts."
*Mezger, Roger. Partial removal of pesky
tonsils can lessen pain, recovery. Birmingham News October 7, 2002, 3D
From the Newhouse News Service. Notes that "partial tonsillectomy"
developed by Dr. Peter Koltai of Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital takes
about 90 percent of the tonsils and leaves underlying throat muscles. This
technique allows for faster recovery with less pain and postoperative bleeding.
*Velasco, Anna. "Samford to start
nurse anesthesia program." Birmingham News,October 7, 2002
The Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing at Samford University in Birmingham,
Alabama, will admit 15 nurse anesthesia students beginning in August, 2003.
*Illegal ketamine producer dismantled.
Birmingham News October 3, 2002, 4A
"U.S. and Mexican authorities said Wednesday they have dismantled North
America's largest illegal producer and distributor of ketamine...The ring, based
in the central Mexican state of Morellos, made and distributed tens of thousands
of vials of ketamine in liquid form each month throughout the United
States..."
*Fox, Ben. U.S. and Mexican officials
dismantle club drug ring. Associated Press October 2, 2002
Authorities announced "...they have dismantled North America's largest
illegal producer and distributor of ketamine..."
*Fasnacht, Don. Veterinarian arrested on
drug charges. Richmond [Indiana]Palladium-Item October 2, 2002
http://www.pal-item.com/news/stories/20021002/localnews/206196.html
Dr. David Matlack was charged with conspiracy to deal a controlled substance,
ketamine.
*Laurance, Jeremy. Fresh evidence that
cannabis reduces pain. Independent [U.K.] October 1, 2002.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=338331
Describes report by Dr. Willy Notcutt at American Academy of Pain Management
meeting about his trial in 34 multiple sclerosis patients.
*Black, Pamela. Conquering the migraine. My
Generation #10: 21-23, September-October 2002
"Scientists know what causes that splitting headache and are closing in on
a cure."
*Gorman, Christine and Alice Park.
"The New Science of Headaches." Time, September 30, 2002. Cover
story.
"As doctors learn more about our throbbing heads, they are uncovering
amazingly effective ways to kill the pain before it starts."
*Study finds epidural, back pain not tied.
Birmingham News September 25, 2002, 6B.
Associated Press story about a study just published in the British Medical
Journal.
*Robeznieks, Andis. Painstaking decisions.
American Medical News 45(36):9-10, September 23/30, 2002.
"Prescribing either too little or too much pain medication can spell
professional disaster."
*Study says new heel pain treatment doesn't
work. CNN.com/HEALTH September 20, 2002
http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/conditions/09/20/heal.pain.ap/index.html
Describes study by Australian researchers on a new high-pressure sound-wave
technique for relieving chronic heel pain. Study published in the September 18
issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
*Two charged in ketamine drug trafficking.
Norwich [Connecticut] Bulletin September 11, 2002
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/stories/20020911/localnews/56334.html
Some 300 vials of ketamine were seized in this arrest of Jason R. Girard and
Bryant Roy.
*Robinson, Carol. Officials: Man gave
OxyContin to teen who died. Birmingham News September 7, 2002, 9A
Bradley Phillips, 19, was charged in Jefferson County, Alabama, with providing a
deadly dose of the drug to a high school senior.
*Kirby, Brendan. Board suspends doctor's
license; Baldwin DA cites connection to drug overdose. Mobile [Alabama] Register
September 5, 2002
Describes case of Gulf Shores physician Joe Howle Sox, who's license was
suspended by the state Board of Medical Examiners. Baldwin County District
Attorney David Whetstone noted that Cox is connected to the case of Walter
"Sandy" Wade who died on May 8 from and overdose of Valium and
OxyContin. Similar article, "Gulf Shores doctor loses license,"
appeared in Birmngham News on September 5, page 4B. See also Kirby, Brendan.
Gulf Shores doctor appeals medical license revocation. Mobile Register 14
December 2002. Sox's license was revoked on November 27 by the Alabama Medical
Licensure Commission.
*Parks GR, Khan SN. Murder and the ICU.
European Journal of Anaesthesiology 19:621-623, September 2002.
Editorial. Describes cases over the past 25 years in which healthcare workers
have murdered patients.
*Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment of heel pain. UAB Insight 14(3):22, summer 2002. "An algorithmic approach facilitates treatement and referrals."Publication is from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System.
*Jackson, Stephen H. Spotlight on...Perry G. Fine, M.D., 2002 Winter Olympic Physician.ASA Newsletter 66(8):25-26, August 2002
*Dotinga, Randy. Dude, Where's My Pain?
Wired News August 22, 2002 http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,54676,00.html
Discusses research on marijuana and pain relief.
*Campbell, Carol Ann. State suspends
tummy-tuck MD's license. Medical board, aware of long history of severe
complications, acts after July death. New Jersey Star-Ledger August 15, 2002
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1029402617229615.xml
Patient Wendy Nunez died in the office of Jose A. Lopez on July 23. Among the
complications noted was the doctor's use of "excessive amounts of
anesthesia."
*Croasdale, Myrie. Fla. opens loophole in
office surgery rule. American Medical News 45(30):15-16, August 12, 2002
"Nurse anesthetists may sedate patients if doctors win a waiver from state
regulation requiring presence of an anesthesiologist."
*Bolton, Mike. Man shot to death in St.
Clair. Birmingham News July 31, 2002
John William Bryant, MD, who was 56 and an anesthesiologist at Regional Medical
Center in Anniston, Alabama, was shot to death during a confrontation with one
of his sons and another man. See also Goldman, Adam. Slain doctor had stabbed
man; sheriff: man shot doctor who attacked. Birmingham News August 1, 2002, pp
1B,2B; Tubbs, Brandon. Shooting of RMC doctor under investigation. Anniston Star
August 1, 2002. Dr. Bryant's obituary appeared in the Birmingham News August 6,
2002, p 5B.
*Woodman, Richard. Investigation uncovers
13 instances of blocked anaesthetic tubing in Britain. Reuters Health
Information, July 22, 2002
The cases took place between 1988 and 2001.
*Levy, Ariel. Makeup breakup. New York
Magazine July 22, 2002 http://www.nymag.com/page.cfm?page_id=6236
Long article chronicles the death of celebrity makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin,
who
died in May from addiction to painkillers. Aucoin suffered from acromegaly.
*Nurses in Missouri and Texas charged with killing patients. New York Times July 18, 2002. Reuters report. Missouri grand jury indicted Rich