Sun editorial:

‘Staggering’ use of pills …

Peers aghast at prescriptions Henderson doctor wrote for patient

Fri, Sep 19, 2008 (2:08 a.m.)

The number of pills a Henderson doctor prescribed for a Las Vegas man from January 2005 to June 2008 was so large an investigation by the Nevada Medical Examiners Board is warranted.

During that period Dr. Kevin Buckwalter prescribed more than 20,000 pills for Michael Hammond, who had gone to him complaining of pain from a neck injury.

Hammond admitted to Las Vegas Sun reporter Marshall Allen that within months of beginning his drug treatment he had no more pain complaints. He said he continued to seek refills anyway because the pills made him feel good. He eventually realized, he said, that he was addicted.

Hammond, who has successfully emerged from an addiction recovery program, contacted the Sun after Allen and reporter Alex Richards reported in July on the high rate of prescription drug use among Nevadans.

Allen, assisted by Richards, reported Hammond’s experience with Buckwalter for Tuesday’s Sun. Their research included reviews of Hammond’s prescription drug and medical records that he shared after obtaining them from the state and from Buckwalter.

Additionally, the Sun consulted with a Connecticut doctor, a Florida doctor and two other pain management experts who practice locally. All four reached identical conclusions in their independent analyses of the records — Buckwalter should be investigated.

Addictions to prescription drugs are increasing nationally. We believe doctors should be part of the solution. They should recognize when a patient is demanding an inordinate number of pills and take steps to protect against abuse.

Dr. Andrea Trescot, the Florida pain specialist who reviewed Hammond’s records, included among her conclusions that the quantity of pills prescribed to Hammond was “far above” a reasonable amount.

Dr. David Kloth of Connecticut, past president of the American Society of Intervention Pain Physicians, told the Sun, “I’m not sure this guy (Buckwalter) belongs practicing medicine — and certainly not pain management — if this is representative of his care.”

Of the local pain specialists consulted by the Sun, one called the number of pills prescribed to Hammond “staggering ... horrible.” The other said, “A complaint to the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners is certainly in order.” We agree.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

By lasvegan2008

9/19/08 at 11:22 a.m.

Suggest removal

Mr / Ms Editor
The editorial, Staggering use of pills... is itself a complaint, as were the articles on abuse of foreign doctors, Dr. Deepak Desai or, shall I say Dr. Death's blatant practices were to the Board of Medical Examiners. Will bureaucracy of Board of Medical Examiners, Pharmacy Board and Division of Health, listen to you and I. I doubt. But we as members of Las Vegas society must continue to highlight corruption in medical practices and other practices in our city.
THE PATH TO GOODNESS IS TOUGHER AND UPHILL THAN THE PATH TO CORRUPTION. PERSISTENCE PAYS IT'S DIVIDEND
By lasvegan2008

9/19/08 at 11:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nevada is one of the two states which have the strictest scrutiny prior to authorizing licence to doctors. Doctor's who come to Las Vegas, are ethical and moral doctors, hence they pass through the licence scrutiny.

What happens to some of these doctors when they start practicing in Las Vegas? God only knows would be a good answer and a good scapegoat. Not only does god know, so do Board of Medical Examiners and other monitoring agencies in Nevada. If you ask these agencies, the obvious answer would be the same as Division of Health gave regarding abuse of foreign doctor's, we did not know abuse of foreign doctors existed. Lies, lies and blatant lies. When these agencies are pinned down and cornered, they hide behind the same answer, we do not have money, manpower etc resources to monitor. Than, what are these monitoring agencies there for. Tax payer's money is used to finance these organizations. Waste of our hard earned money

Many persons who are supposed to monitor, live in the same community they are supposed to monitor. So the logic that they do not know what is going on in Nevada does not hold. The logic that they close there eyes and ears and turn their heads away holds.

Division of Health, Board of Medical Examiners and Pharmacy Board cannot truly deny there knowledge of abuse of foreign doctors, Dr. Desai's practices and narcotic abuse in Las Vegas, respectively.

I hear of ethics committee meeting headed by Mr Larry Mathies, where 40 or more personnel have come together to educate medical personnel of Las Vegas about ethics. I am sure Mr Matheis has good intentions and wants to see ethical conduct by medical personnel in Las Vegas.

My advice to Mr. Matheis:
Start with educating people about ethics within the organizations present at the meeting. Only than can they talk about ethics and morality to other's. THEY NEED TO PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH.

On a wider scale, the culture of corruption is very much part of Las Vegas society. What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas, is our shameful motto. Our sin city and sinful corruptions are legitimized by our motto. Corruption is tolerated for sake of money, more money and more money. This culture needs to be changed. Such change can happen, only when, ethical and moral politicians, community leaders, religious leaders, teachers, people in community etc., set up moral and ethical campaign to cleanse Las Vegas of corruption but then Las Vegas may cease to exist as immorality finances existence of Las Vegas..

Mr. Larry Matheis, keep it up. You have an uphill task.