Halena Gazelka, M.D., a practicing Mayo Clinic pain specialist, was chosen to give testimony to the Senate HELP Committee Hearing on ‘Managing Pain During the Opioid Crisis’ on February 12, 2019. She also served on the HHS Pain Management Inter-Agency Task Force along with another hearing witness, Cindy Sternberg.
Dr. Gazelka did nothing to help the chronic pain patient or the doctors providing care, but instead reinforced government overreach into medicine and showed support of government attacks on pain management physicians. With witnesses like this, who needs enemies?
Dr. Gazelka’s primary testimony was in giving accolades to Mayo Clinic’s work, the “Mayo Clinic Guidelines for Acute and Chronic Opioid Prescribing”. She touts their work on reducing reliance on opioid medications while supposedly ensuring that patient needs for pain management are reasonably met, claiming improved pain management for their patients while at the same time, having a drastic reduction in excess opioid availability. For example, opioid prescriptions were reduced 50% in surgical practice, while supposedly maintaining patient satisfaction.
She mentions their non-opioid therapy treatments such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, biofeedback and nursing, along with cognitive behavioral therapy and mental health programs emphasizing the management of chronic pain without the use of opioids.
Her recommendations to the hearing (first mistake was in referring to the “opioid epidemic”) were in condoning federal government’s unconstitutional overreach into medicine by recommending that the government
- Not limit access to appropriate opioid treatment,
- Increase access for patients to alternative pain management therapies,
- Reduce the burden for providers to access prescribing data, and
- Promote public awareness and education on the topic of pain and various treatment options.
The only pro-pain patient comment was that the physician should have the flexibility to manage and monitor patients individually. But at the same time, reading between the lines, she gives credence to the government attacks on physicians when she recommends “proactively addressing high-risk prescribing practices”. As long as physicians are being attacked for doing their job, pain patients will NOT get the treatment they might need.
“…we believe that the most appropriate policies will encourage responsible behavior, promote the use of effective non-opioid treatments where possible and proactively address high-risk prescribing practices. This approach is the most effective means of addressing the crisis before us without compromising legitimate patient care needs.”
She recommends the development of guidelines for opioid and non-opioid prescribing and therapies and then using these guidelines for measuring clinician practice and performance as part of value-based payment for services, such as the Quality Payment Program. She also recommends that Medicare and Medicaid should develop additional coverage of and reimbursement for non-opioid treatment regimens.
Then she spouts government propaganda, stating
“There is little medical evidence in support of long-term use of opioids in treating chronic pain.”
How could any practicing pain management physician make such a statement unless she knows where her bread is being buttered?
And then, to add insult to injury, she supports the illegal government watchdog activity against doctors stating
“optimizing existing prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) at the national level should also be strongly pursued.”
The PDMP programs are being used by the federal government to identify and target doctors who are prescribing opioids. A doctor in her position should be asking that the PDMP programs only be accessed by the medical professionals and pharmacists, as the programs were originally intended—not for law enforcement.
And although this hearing was focused on pain treatment, she further enforces the fake opioid addiction crisis calling for Medicare and Medicaid programs to embrace integrated, multi-faceted approaches to addiction treatment, increased treatment programs for opioid addiction including pushing medicine assisted therapy (MAT).
So basically, through Benedict Arnold physicians like Dr. Gazelka, the Senate committee heard what they wanted to hear.
Below you will find the full testimony printed, as well as my summary. The actual hearing can be heard HERE.
Gazelka testimony to HELP Hearing 2-12-19
Halena Gazelka, M.D Testimony Summary 2-12-19
Filed under: General Problems
When she said she liked the cdc guidelines I thought to myself why even continue to listen.
Who today has the power to crush out of existence ESTABLISHED LAW?, like the one that says any doc with a DEA license can prescribe as much opiate as needed? The Attorneys General, that’s who.
Can you see how they have enough power to steer the WHOLE of Alphabet Crew, even the President? They want most of the money they will get from pharm mfg in THEIR hot little hands and will, of course, “distribute” some to the investors that helped them because they are loyal that way.
They want prescribing at ZERO except for the “addict” miracle Suboxone, now that is a good opiate. Likely not all Doctors and Pharmacies are investors in this, just ‘under the gun’ along with the 50 million who would benefit from opiates.
Boooyyyy, Somebody. Some Nefarious Anti-Opioid Group set this heiffer up for the rest of her miserable life. That of her children, and her grandchildren.
Shameful and Disgusting.
May she break every bone in her horrid body and forced to live by her own suggestions.
**Drops the mic**
We can only hope/ pray 4 Karma 2 prevail
What?? How much money did this obvious Atheist $%¥€π get paid to give oath..”swear to God..hand to Bible” to lie for Mayo Clinic? Which Mayo Clinic is she affiliated with? It was the Phoenix Mayo Clinic recommendation to treat me with 100% “Pure Opioid Liquid”; e.g., “Tincture of Opium” to decrease the amount and the frequency of the liquified output of my small Bowel..bc they could not keep me hydrated! The more fluids they pumped me with, the more output from my ileostomy!! And, thought this was the most appropriate treatment for pain, after battling 6 separate episodes of Peritonitis from a botched Total Colectomy in a Dallas Texas Hospital, that was my home for 100+ days, b4 going to Mayo Clinic. How can firstly, anyone who has never experienced any such painful, horrifying tragedies (and obviously paid nicely to lie through her teeth, about things she’s only read in books have any credibility in wtf she’s talking about)? I CHALLENGE ANY ONE OF THESE CHCKN @%*÷ Prevaricator OFFICIALS/”Specialist” who are getting rich to side with them and TO FACE ME, BE FORCED TO LISTEN.. without interruption (unless you have the stomach to watch the process of me having to intubate my waste..which must be done 18-25 times a day, and NO, I DO NOT SLEEP EXCEPT FOR 45 mins at a time, and that’s a perfect night’s sleep) TO WHAT ALL I’VE GONE THROUGH, which STARTED IN September of 1999, and is the way I will live for the rest of my days..as long as I’m still able to do so without assistance.
Any takers desiring to come and get you some of this quality of life? Just one days worth? YOU WOULD NEVER IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS MAKE IT! NOW THAT I’M ONLY ALLOWED 90MME, that insanity makes it all that much worse! For years, and even though additional surgeries, I was able to be somewhat active, (able to get out and walk), happy, and content, BEFORE YOU HEARTLESS SOULS TOOK MY 180MME away from me..not the legal 400MME I could have chosen to take, BUT I AM NOT A JUNKIE.. I SIMPLY Took what had worked well for me for years. So thank you so much for ending my dream of continuing my comeback, to continue teaching people how to exercise, control their weight, do what is necessary to obtain optimal health, workout correctly, and safely! Not to mention, able to make a little money to provide for my Daughter who is my everything, as I am a Single Father! No mother around. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HALTING MY DREAM, WHICH I WAS LIVING AS 100% LEGALLY DISABLED, BECAUSE I’M A FIGHTER, AND REFUSED TO HAVE AMERICANS PAY MY DEBTS!
I STILL HAVE A LIST OF MORE SURGERIES TO COMES! WHEN DO WE GET TO GIVE OUR INPUT. “EQUALITY..MY ASS!
* “Helena, I don’t know if Kazakhstan has ever heard of KARMA, and because I would never wish upon anyone to have to go through not one of the countless living hells that I have, you probably better “CHECK YOURSELF”, because I’ve seen KARMA happen to many times to make me believe it exists! So, should you, and I hope you do not, ever experience a need to be hospitalized, and is associated with pain levels of 5-10, you make sure you ask for Tylenol. Then, restate your laughably, deceitful testimony.
Lastly, my comments, this time, do not even talk about 4 Back Surgeries I’ve had of the 5 needed major Back Surgeries to rebuild my Spine using my “human stem cells”, artificial discs..”T-lifts”, rods and screws. From a Staph Infection that destroyed my spine because some genius Radiologist told me I had a bone spur in my back. Then PLEASE, suggest your Physical Therapy programs that will touch these pains. And I should tell you, I’ve been an Expert Certified Professional Golf Fitness Trainer and Personal Trainer for 20 yrs, before Back Tragedy struck 9yrs ago! Meaning, I know just as much as, and more so about bettering my body than Physical Therapists, whom, by the way.. I cannot find a SINGLE ONE THAT IS WILLING TO PUT HANDS ON ME! DO YOUR RESEARCH WOMAN, THERE ARE COUNTLESS DIFFERENT SITUATIONAL MALADIES THAT CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE HUMAN BODY! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO ADMIT YOU ARE A PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST! YOU DO NOT KNOW “JACK”!
If you check on past reviews you will read how she treats her patients pain. One of her patients was in pain and all Dr. Gazelka would do was try to sell her on a pain rehabilitation program. You will also see low ratings on her hospice and palliative care. That is very disturbing that these people are at the end on their life and this indicates they are quite possibly suffering. How do they choose these doctors to give their opinions and recommendations? Do they look in a book of doctors that will not use opiates to relieve pain even if it is the last and only thing that will work? Like they are not an option any more. These are not doctors. These are sociopaths. If you can look in a persons eyes and see the pain they are suffering and walk away knowing there is a possibility you CAN help but won’t because of the stigma, you just have no conscience.
Yup, they want everyone to do their pain program!! That is so they can make $ off of u! After u do it u r to never use an ice or heating pad every again nor take Tylenol ever ever again. Yeah, no thank u! It’s so unrealistic!!!
So if your an alcoholic, then it is okay to still drink and drive?. To me this is more of a major problem because alcohol is so easy to get from a dollar store to your neighbors outside garage refrigerator. It makes some people so vile depending on what kind, and belligerent that they don’t believe anything is wrong. Throwing up everywhere. Passed out in cars on the side of the road. Causing death as they drive around thinking nothing is wrong. If your going to take our medication away, then take alcohol away too!, or make it to where you can only buy it once a month that you can only get a few. Can you imagine all the craziness it would cause? Well, think about the real sick people. At least with a pain pill for real sick people as myself, will not do behave in any matter like an alcoholic does. Again causing death all the time when driving drunk. At least with pain management It just goes to your illness and helps you to be able to maintain a good balance in your health. It doesn’t cause craziness of course if used in the appropriate way as prescribe by the Doctor. Someone with real pain did not ask for what debilating disease, chronic illness they have. I would give my legs up to feel good everyday and not take anything medicine, but life did not work out this way for me. Lupus which I have I, is so dibilating and painful, I cry a lot and pain level can go from 7 to a 10 in just minutes. If did not get to take my little pain management pill, I would not be able to care for my family as in major roles I have as a wife and mother. God gave us scientist with great brains to to make meicine to be able to help us. God would NOT want any of us to suffer on earth. He would want his children like the Doctors who made or invented the medication to help us through our day, to hopefully have just a little peace with no pain until our dying day.
Please don’t take my medicine away.
I want to live, feeling half decent for my family.
Rochester Minnesota is where this Mayo is,,,,ive been there,,,it very very corrupted,,,they will cover for other doctors screw-up and will do what-ever kolodny/government wants them to..This is the same mayo,,,the parent of a young lady who just went thru brain surgery was DENIED OXYCODONE after surgery for pain,,Her parents seeing the FORCED agony there daughter was in,,kidnapped there own daughter from this mayo,,and got her to a different hospital who gave her her pain medicine and she is now functioning once again…this hospital is nothing more the the government puppet,,,kolodny is all over Minnesota,,,soo this inhumane bit– testimony does not surprise me..Hey,,,why can’t ,”’we” get infront of congress or this b/.s, committee???maryw
I’m still wildly astonished that cigarette smoking which causes hundreds of thousands of deaths annually isn’t considered a huge public health “crisis”. It’s all about the money cigarettes bring in & agressive lobbying by the tobacco industry. Tobacco has no medical use whatsoever yet its use seems much more acceptable in our society,
For this supposed pain specialist to throw us under the bus like that is extremely disappointing.
How can attorney types win against pharm mfg, if opiates appear in any tiny way as good for something? And who can oppose top attorney types in a ‘police state’?
I’m sorely disappointed in people like Halena Gazelka. They close their eyes to the needs, and the funerals, of millions of pain patients.