Hurwitz
Trial
Update
and
Call
for
Support
12/3/04
https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/365
/hurwitz.shtml
Two days ago the prosecution
rested its case in the trial of pain treatment specialist Dr. William Hurwitz.
Dr. Frank Fisher, another physician victimized by the government's mendacious
against pain doctors, distributed the following update to Hurwitz supporters
last night:
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Dr. Hurwitz addresses the media during his bout with Virginia's medical board in 1996.
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"The government rested its
case against Dr. Hurwitz yesterday. Significantly, they failed to
deliver on a promise made during opening statements. They had promised
that undercover tapes would prove that Dr. Hurwitz was aware of ongoing
diversion of controlled substances and continued to prescribe anyway.
They presented no such evidence.
"Today was the first full
day of defense testimony. Steve Passik spent the morning on the witness
stand discussing conceptual issues surrounding the controversy about aberrant
drug-related behaviors. He made it clear that these behaviors are
not in and of themselves automatically diagnostic of anything, and that
complex clinical judgments are required in order to assess their meanings.
Dr. Passik pointed out that these criteria are better characterized as
AMBIGUOUS drug-related behaviors.
"A registered nurse who worked
in Dr. Hurwitz' office gave a fair and accurate representation of what
went on there. She discussed the difficult decision making process
that occurred in dealing with patients who were less than compliant with
their treatment plans.
"Finally, three patients
testified today. All made it clear that Dr. Hurwitz' heroic treatment
had been life saving. This occurred after the remainder of the medical
establishment had failed them, sometimes for more than a decade.
"The testimony of a nice
lady from New Mexico moved members of the jury and courtroom staff to tears.
She described the torment that had reduced her to years of a bedridden
existence, consisting of pain and vomiting, prior to Dr. Hurwitz' treatment
restoring her to a functional existence."
Siobhan Reynolds of the Pain
Relief Network has informed DRCNet that Dr. Hurwitz will testify on his
own behalf on Monday, December 6, and asked that supporters come out to
demonstrate their support in person. The trial is taking place at
the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, 401 Courthouse Square.
Even a short visit is worthwhile and could make an impact! Visit
http://www.painreliefnetwork.org/default.asp?id=70&mnu=40
for directions and trial updates.
-- END --
Issue #365
, 12/3/04
DRCNet
Event:
Rep.
Barney
Frank
to
Keynote
for
Perry
Fund
Forum/Fundraiser,
December
9,
2004,
Boston
|
DEA
Retraction
of
Pain
FAQ
Angers,
Scares
Doctors
and
Patients
|
Hurwitz
Trial
Update
and
Call
for
Support
|
Raich
Case
as
Much
About
Federalism
as
About
Medical
Marijuana
|
Medical
Marijuana
at
the
Supreme
Court
--
a
Taste
of
the
Day's
Events
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Top
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Say
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a
Flop
in
Two
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Rules
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Newsbrief:
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Puts
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Newsbrief:
Delaware
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Exchange
Again
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New
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of
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Gets
Underway
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Newsbrief:
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Newsbrief:
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Rejects
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Newsbrief:
Federal
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Guidelines
Fill
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Study
Finds
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This
Week's
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Story
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Week
in
History
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New
Harm
Reduction
Grant
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for
Activism
and
Policy
By
and
for
Drug
Users
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Apply
Now
to
Intern
at
DRCNet!
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