December 8, 1999, 7:45 - 8:30 pm

“Pain Relief for the Terminally Ill:  The legislative hurdles surrounding effective medical care and the use
of narcotics to treat terminally ill cancer and AIDS victims”

Dr. Ralph P. Miech, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology
Brown University School of Medicine

Dr. Ralph P. Miech, associate professor of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology, will discuss the current controversies revolving around the Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999.  This piece of legislation is currently being debated by both the U.S. Senate and the American Medical Association.  In addition to promoting research into palliative care of the terminally ill, this historic legislative attempt would provide for the first time funds for the education and training of physicians in the effective medical use of narcotics for the alleviation of pain in terminally ill cancer and AIDS victims.  The following issues will be discussed: (1) the evolving conflict between Federal Law and State Law, (2) why the Oregon Medical Society and the Rhode Island Medical Society and are at odds with the American Medical Society with respect to this piece of legislation, and (3) the impact of this legislation on federal drug regulations on the movement to legitimize physician-assisted suicide in the United States.