the opioid crisis.
Reckless, unethical
and immoral pre-
scribing for the sake
of monetary gain at
the expense of
human health and
dignity is inexcus-
able, yet was ram-
pant among some so-
called healthcare
providers who profit-
ed from those suffer-
ing from opioid
addiction.
On July 1, 2019, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law legisla-
tion requiring healthcare professionals to inform patients about the
advantages and disadvantages of non-opioid alternatives to treat
pain. Under the new law, the Florida Department of Health must
create an educational pamphlet about non-opioid alternatives and
healthcare facilities post the pamphlet on their websites.
Healthcare practitioners are also required to distribute the pam-
phlet to patients under their care.
There is not a preponderance of evidence-based data that suggest
that exposure to intraoperative opioids leads to addiction, even in for-
mer addicts who are now in recovery. Yet here in Florida, I'm required
to be very specific about all the opioids I administer, and patients are
given somewhat frightening literature about the role opioids play in
pain management, even those they receive when they're anesthetized.
Apparently, it's no longer sufficient to tell my patients, "I will keep you
6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0
There are many alternative
or adjuvant techniques that reduce or
even eliminate the use of opioids.
