FSMB to Award 'Pain Treatment' Doctor Scott M. Fishman in Spite of Senate Investigation

"I lost court cases and misdemeanor juries, but of felony jury trials I was successful 105 of 106 times"
- Vincent Bugliosi, Prosecutor in Charles Manson murder trial

Scott M. Fishman, MD, and a pain group he represents, are under Senate Investigation, but state medical boards still see him worthy to receive a prestigious national award.

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is preparing for their 101st Annual Meeting April 18 - 20 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Massachusetts.

This off the FSMB website -- The Federation of State Medical Boards is a national non-profit organization representing the 70 medical and osteopathic boards of the United States and its territories. The FSMB leads by promoting excellence in medical practice, licensure, and regulation as the national resource and voice on behalf of state medical and osteopathic boards in their protection of the public.

The FSMB will be announcing their Annual Award Winners at the meeting recognizing outstanding service and leadership to the FSMB and the field of medical licensure and discipline in medical regulation.

Scott M. Fishman, MD will be the recipient of this prestigious recognition by the FSMB.  It should be noted that Fishman as well as the FSMB are currently under US Senate investigation for their alleged involvement in pushing opioids for profit fueled by the pharmaceutical industry.  The Senate wants answers as to whether the FSMB, Fishman and others promoted misleading information about the risks and benefits of opioids while receiving financial support from opioid manufacturers.

Again off the FSMB website -- Dr. Fishman, Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Professor of Anesthesia at the University of California, Davis, is well known for his longstanding scholarship and leadership in the area of pain management. He lectures throughout the United States on all aspects of pain control as well as the prevention of prescription drug abuse. Dr. Fishman is the author of the FSMB Foundation's 2007 book, "Responsible Opioid Prescribing," which was widely distributed by medical boards and quickly became a recognized authoritative resource for physicians in confronting problems associated with the evaluation and treatment of chronic pain. An expanded and revised second edition, "Responsible Opioid Prescribing: A Clinician's Guide," was released in print and e-book formats in 2012. Dr. Fishman is Past President of the American Academy of Pain Medicine."  (The American Academy of Pain Medicine is also under U.S. Senate investigation).

And off the website In The Face of Pain brought to the U.S. and Canada by Purdue Pharma (also under Senate investigation), maker of OxyContin is this quotation by Dr. Fishman -- “There is no debate among public health experts about the fact that pain is undertreated.  Undertreatment of pain has been recognized as a public health crisis for decades. The consequences are often catastrophic for patients, in terms of suffering and disability, as well as for the health care costs we all share, since untreated and undertreated pain often lead to expensive utilization of resources.  But turning away from patients in pain simply isn’t an option.  Not if we are to meet our ethical responsibilities, and not if we care about our patient’s well-being. If we are true to an age-old ethic of medicine, that we “cure when we can but treat suffering always,” we must first and foremost respond to our patients’ pain.”  Link to the website www.inthefaceofpain.com/voices-of-hope/my-voice/scott-m-fishman-m-d/

It might be a good time Dr. Fishman to maybe have a low profile.  You know by not still associating with agencies and pharmaceutical companies that could potentially throw you under the bus.  But you know best, after all you are one of the leading experts on the treatment of pain in the country and wrote in your well read book published for the FSMB "Responsible Opioid Prescribing - A Physician's Guide" -- "Many people also under-report pain because they fear that pain medications will dull their cognitive abilities lead to addiction, or result in unmanageable side effects.  And last, some patients may believe that there is value in suffering.  It is their due, or that in some way they deserve to be in pain to expiate some form of "wrong-doing" or "sinfulness,"

Dull their cognitive abilities, lead to addiction, or result in unmanageable side effects?  Yes on all counts and the good doctor had to know this was a fact when he wrote his book for the FSMB in 2007.

So decades later, why don't we ask Prosecutor Vincent Buglioisi if he had to prosecute Charles Manson today would he open the trial with "Mr. Manson you seem to be quite knowledgeable in the techniques to be used in home invasion.  Would you be interested in consulting for us and being financially rewarded to share your vat of knowledge?   We know you have no conscience, but sometimes evil is rewarded -- and today may be your lucky day -- or not."

LP - Have said it all, shared it all, prayed it all, laughed it all -- and always have so much peace and love in my heart for you.

Marianne Skolek twitter.com/MarianneSkolek
Investigative Reporter for Salem-News.com on drug epidemic
www.salem-news.com/by_author.php?reporter=Marianne%20Skolek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmPG1VjD61U&list=UUWoHUEr4ZAbQOfIqtOArjgg&index=6&feature=plcp
judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da12c8394&wit_id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da12c8394-2-1
www.vawd.uscourts.gov/PurdueFrederickCo/default.asp
www.oxydeaths.com908-285-1232

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.