Ron Wyden: “on October 4, 2000, I did not correctly state the American Cancer Society's position on S. 1272, when I stated that they…”

“on October 4, 2000, I did not correctly state the American Cancer Society's position on S. 1272, when I stated that they ``. . . strongly opposed . . . the Pain Relief Promotion Act.'' Their actual position, taken directly from their recent statement on the legislation, is as follows: . . . The American Cancer Society appreciates the commitment shown by the sponsors of the legislation to address these issues, but unfortunately is unable to support this legislation as written . . . Careful analysis of the House-passed measure and a substitute version of the Senate bill . . . have serious potential to exacerbate the current problem of under treatment of pain. While there are provisions to proactively address pain and symptom management, the Society maintains that any benefit from such provisions would not outweigh the potential threat posed by the changes to CSA. Furthermore, neither section of the bill comprehensively addresses the needs of providers, patients, and families for ongoing support and education to counter the current problem of under-treatment of pain--a problem that often leads to requests for physician-assisted suicide . . . Under the Act, all physicians and particularly physicians who care for those with terminal illnesses will be made especially vulnerable to having their pain and symptom management treatment decisions questioned by law enforcement officials not qualified to judge medical decision-making.”