American Spectator Hit Piece on Pain Surgeons...

[drusso]

Perverse Health-Care Incentives Endanger Spine Patients - The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator | USA News and Politics

We have failed as physicians when the Louisiana Legislature must intervene to ensure that only surgeons are allowed to perform spine surgery.

spectator.org

"Non-operative specialists, such as pain anesthesiologists and pain medicine physicians, are not trained to perform spinal fusions as the codes are written. They have not completed a surgical residency performing surgery or treating surgical patients. Pain management physicians do not undergo competency training in the surgical instrumentation of the spine, measured and indexed by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education, at the same level as spine surgeons."

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[MitchLevi]

...you dudes aren't actually fusing anyone anyways.

 

[Ronin1]

Everyone should stay in their lanes

 

[Agast]

Arguably the most dangerous spine doctor was the neurosurgeon who maimed, killed and paralyzed people. Maybe there should be an impassioned article about how a residency program could possibly graduate someone like that if the training is so rigorous.

 

[Agast]

Also didn’t that bill get tabled or something? It’s not like it passed so what’s the point of mentioning it.

 

[drusso]

Also didn’t that bill get tabled or something? It’s not like it passed so what’s the point of mentioning it.

Unless Pain gets it ducks in a row and is unified in protecting access for patients, spine surgeons will try to pick off states one by one.

 

[hyperalgesia]

I agree with the authors about this being somewhat a consequence of our socialized medical system. In that respect, limiting the docs doing fusions will limit the total number of fusions, probably be a net benefit for disability, and save money for the hive in the long run.

 

[SeniorWrangler]

Everything they said about about fusions applies double to neurosurgeons, that’s the funny part.

 

[Ducttape]

interestingly, i dont see these neurosurgeons take the position that spine surgeons should not do epidural injections or facet blocks.

or dermatologists or non plastic surgeons should not do cosmetic work.

 

[SeniorWrangler]

someone from SIS should write a rejoinder.

 

[Chelsea FC]

Do pain docs call themselves pain surgeons?? Is this a new thing?

 

[hyperalgesia]

We've all seen some hideous abuse by pain docs and no doubt the authors of this piece have also. I don't support the heavy handed nature of this proposed legislation but we really need to clean house if we want our specialty to be respected.

Like I said and the authors also said, it's the perverse incentives that drive this. The hospitals don't give a **** who does the fusions. But whoever does the most is sure to be the featured KOL in the newsletter.