Dr. Patrick Danaher with the Advanced Pain and Spine Institute in Missoula testified that no one who walks into their clinic walks out with opioids that day. He said that after an exam and diagnosis, if opioids are part of the treatment plan the patient needs to see a psychologist, visit https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/erase-my-back-pain-reviews-2021-whats-new/Content?oid=34768096 if you are looking for a natural and harmless chronic back pain treatment.

“They take the patient through a battery of tests and do a pretty thorough interview. It takes two or three hours,” Danaher said, adding that they look for red flags, such as a history of substance abuse. Patients also can undergo the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test so doctors can form a conclusion on whether the patients are goods risk for chronic opioid therapy.

Christensen’s attorney, Josh Van de Wetering, asked how expensive those tests are, having previously noted that Christensen didn’t accept insurance for his patients because of the plethora of paperwork. Danaher said he wasn’t sure, but in cases with low-income patients without insurance, his clinic will either set up a payment plan or forgo payments altogether.

“If they can’t pay we have a program where we can assist them or forgive the debt on a needs basis,” Danaher said. “We don’t advertise it, but we offer it.”

Danaher noted that opioids are quite dangerous, and can cause “respiratory depression” that gradually slows and ultimately stops a person’s breathing, which leads to death.

So instead, his clinic tries to treat chronic pain patients with other drugs that seek to address the cause of the pain, like anti-inflammatories, anticonvulsants, anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, usually most pain conditions are linked to overweight, check these meticore reviews.

His testimony came on the same day that President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis across the nation a public health emergency. (See related story.)

Danaher said he suspects that 30 years ago, doctors were under treating pain patients. With the creation of sustained-release opioids like OxyContin in the 1990s, the pendulum swung to over-prescribing, leading to an opioid epidemic.

“I think that is making its way back to what will be the middle,” Danaher said.

The trial continues today.

Doctor has no idea what the cost to the pt on a mandatory psychological testing that takes 2-3 hrs. No reference as to how many pt or per-cent of pts taking the test show a tendency of having a mental health disease of addictive personality… could that be because a very low per-cent fall into that category and it would suggest that the making the test mandatory is wasting a lot of money and expense for pts.  Most Psychologists charge a minimum of $100 – $125/hr.  There is a much more simplistic test SOAPP-R https://www.opioidrisk.com/node/1209 and takes 10 -15 minutes.

Dr Christensen was originally OVER-CHARGED with 400 charges… and were reduced to 22 for the trial two counts of negligent homicide, nine counts of criminal endangerment, and 11 counts of distribution of dangerous drugs.

Does this suggest that the prosecuting attorney just pulled the rest of those 378 charges out is his ass when the charges were just made ?

The pain specialist stated that:  opiates can cause “respiratory depression” that gradually slows and ultimately stops a person’s breathing, which leads to death.

Just about anything CAN CAUSE under desirable outcomes.. like drinking too much WATER can cause DEATH, but don’t hear about anyone suggesting that we should suggest limiting access to water.