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Doctors share opioid concerns, association says

Daily Oklahoman - 8/2/2018

Aug. 02--shares

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Responding to news Oklahoma City might sue doctors over the opioid epidemic, the leading organization for Oklahoma physicians said Wednesday it shares the goal of reducing opioid abuse.

The Oklahoma City Council voted Tuesday to seek damages for healthcare outlays, lost work time and other costs incurred by the city because of the addiction crisis.

An agreement with outside legal counsel gives a green light to including doctors among those who might be named as defendants, along with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.

The Oklahoma State Medical Association issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying it was "aware of the city council's litigation and will be reviewing it carefully."

"We share the goal of reducing opioid abuse and have already worked with state lawmakers on a variety of initiatives aimed at addressing issues related to overprescribing, addiction and drug diversion," the association said.

The statement said the association's immediate past president, Dr. Kevin Taubman, served on Attorney General Mike Hunter'sCommission on Opioid Abuse.

Taubman "assisted in creating framework and supporting legislation to address this issue," it said.

"We look forward to working with policymakers -- at the municipal, state and federal levels -- to continue working to end this crisis."

The city's legal services agreement provides an option for taking to court "certain individuals involved in the unprofessional prescribing and distribution of opioids to the public."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said 42,000 people died in 2016 due to fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioids, with 40 percent of overdose deaths involving a prescription opioid, such as OxyContin.

Wiley Williams, a deputy city attorney, said in an email the city "does not yet know what standards would be used to determine which physicians would be at fault."

He said the provision was included because some city council members were concerned about "pill mill-type" physicians being held responsible.

"Our office wanted to provide for that contingency in the event evidence came to light that would support a legitimate cause of action against a healthcare professional who might have contributed to the opioid crisis in some significant, ill-advised, illegal or unprofessional manner because of the financial rewards that might be available," Williams said.

The Commission on Opioid Abuse made 31 recommendations, said Terri Watkins, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, and the 2018 Legislature passed seven bills.

They included measures to register pain-management clinics and gather information from manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors on the quantities of opioids shipped into Oklahoma.

One measure limits initial opioid prescriptions to seven days.

A review board was established to study overdose deaths and make recommendations on deploying resources to reduce the toll.

Staff writer Meg Wingerter contributed to this story.

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