Letter from Kentucky
My name is Lamarr W. Ritchie. I am an Associate Professor at a small college in Kentucky. I am also the victim of chronic and debilitating pain. I take opioid medications daily in order to function. Without them, I would not even be able to get out of bed. With them, I can function almost normally.
I have read of the case against Dr. Weitzel on various websites and his own website. It appears that he is a compassionate and caring physician that has attempted to relieve the suffering of his patients and is being persecuted for no good reason whatsoever.
The medical charts show quite well that this was not "active euthanasia". The patients’ families chose to have all interventions stopped, and only comfort care given. No overdoses were given; the charts show that no patient died immediately on being placed on morphine for comfort. This care is legal in all 50 states, standard throughout the world.
The hospital held a mortality review directly after the deaths, and Dr. Weitzel was not censored or disciplined; the care was understood for what it was: palliative comfort care. Too bad the state won't see this.
This case is an example of over-zealous prosecutors interfering in medicine. Legitimate pain patients, like me, are already suffering because of vendettas against good doctors that prescribe opioids to try and relieve suffering. Stopping Dr. Weitzel from practicing will cause many patients of his to suffer needlessly. It could also affect chronic pain patients all over the country as many physicians may decide to not prescribe these needed medications for fear of being attacked themselves.
Use common sense people! Go to his site and read the medical charts yourself.
<http://www.weitzelcharts.com/>Sincerely,
L. W. Ritchie
Kentucky