PBS Documentary Brings Chronic Pain Out of Shadows
www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2017/3/6/pbs-documentary-brings-chronic-pain-out-of-the-shadows
By Pat Anson, Editor
Many chronic pain sufferers are frustrated with how they are depicted in the media – often as lazy, whining, drug seeking addicts.
A new documentary called “The Painful Truth” is trying to change that narrative. It began airing on local PBS stations this month.
LYNN WEBSTER, MD
“I wanted to give a voice to people who live in the shadows. People in pain are often ignored and treated as outcast or druggies,” says co-producer Lynn Webster, MD, one of the world’s leading experts on pain management and past President of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.
“The film tries to demonstrate the lack of humanity that exists today towards people in pain. It also reveals some of flaws in our public policy that has contributed to the current pain and addiction crisis. I hope that the film will be a seed for a cultural transformation in attitudes and respect for the most hurting among us.”
The 30-minute documentary is the video version of Webster’s 2015 award-winning book, The Painful Truth, in which he shares the personal stories of chronic pain patients he treated for over 30 years in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
Webster may be retired now as a practicing physician, but he’s determined to have pain sufferers treated with more compassion and respect, not only by the media, but by government, regulators, insurers and their own doctors.
“I’ve had patients who begged me for alternatives to opioids when their insurance wouldn’t cover anything else that would give them relief,” says Webster. “I’ve had patients who could not find a respite from their pain and chose to end their suffering by taking their own life. I’ve cried with, and comforted, the caregivers of my patients, people who are on the front lines every single day doing everything they can to help their loved ones regain the life they once knew.”
Webster and co-producer Craig Worth traveled over 70,000 miles gathering stories from patients and documenting their daily struggles. They also interviewed caretakers, doctors, patient advocates, addiction specialists and law enforcement officials.
The Painful Truth has already aired on KENW-TV in Portales, New Mexico and WXXI-TV in Rochester, New York. It will be broadcast later this week on WOSU-TV in Columbus, Ohio. For a listing of stations and air dates, click here.
Webster is encouraging pain sufferers to reach out to their local PBS stations and ask them to broadcast The Painful Truth. He says when documentaries air on local public television, it is common for the host station to include a panel discussion with community members.
“If your local public station decides to air this documentary and you would be willing to make yourself available for a panel discussion, I would encourage you to reach out to your station to offer your participation. It could be a great opportunity to discuss how important it is to transform the way pain is perceived, judge and treated,” Webster says.
“I am realistic about the film. It won’t be the solution, but it may open some eyes and more importantly some hearts that could result in better pain care in America.”
Filed under: General Problems
hmmm,curious,,he states alternative to opiates medicine,,,is he against opiate medicine also???maryw