Pain patients should not have to live in fear of being dropped because of unethical doctors. If a doctor causes suffering through dishonesty, that doctor should face harsh repercussions, for that doctor has violated their oath to "do no harm". 

My 78-year-old mother was unjustly dropped by her pain doctor simply for standing up for herself. After being told she had to choose between her pain medicine or her anxiety medicine, she contacted the medical board and found out the doctor was lying. However, she followed his order and quit her Xanax in less than 2 months. While my mom reluctantly tapered off of her Xanax, he was still reducing her pain meds causing her to suffer through increased pain on top of the anxiety. While going through all this, her sister (and only surviving sibling) passed away. I was extremely worried about my mom and I was enraged by the doctor's cruelty. On 11/19/25 she went for her appointment. She told the doctor that she hadn't taken Xanax in over a month. He restored her quantity from 70 to 90, but told her not to fill them for 7 days, knowing she was completely out and had done as he instructed. Two days later, 11/21/25, the pharmacy texted that her pain medicine was ready, that the doctor had written "fill on 21st". Confused, I called the medical board and explained the situation. They told me that she was doing nothing wrong by picking up her pain medicine because the doctor had written the fill date. My mother picked up her medicine thinking that perhaps the doctor had a change of heart. Two weeks later, 12/04/25, she received a dismissal letter which stated "aberrant behavior" as the reason. It was as if the doctor was setting her up, knowing she was in misery. 

Pain patients should not have to fear each monthly visit. I'm fighting for my mother and for myself. As pain patients, we must stand together and demand that unethical actions that cause suffering are met with consequences. We all deserve the right to quality of life, and access to the medications that improve our quality of life. We should not have to beg for them. We have to end the misinformation that brought us to this point and give patients the right to relief from their suffering, as well as the right to take legal action against any doctor that violates those rights through unethical actions.

UPDATE: On March 6th, my mother had a hemorrhagic stroke and passed away. In my opinion, the doctor caused her death. I am currently seeking legal advice and looking for a malpractice lawyer. I miss my mom so much. She didn't deserve this.

*The story above was written in my own words and describes my mother's experience. She doesn't deserve to be going through this, nor do the many others that simply want to look forward to each day instead of dreading it. As a resident of Alabama, I have no one to reach out to other than the state medical board.

 This painful experience is not isolated but is part of a broader issue affecting countless individuals who suffer needlessly because of a flawed healthcare system.

Pain patients have found themselves trapped in an oppressive system that denies them the autonomy over their own health and well-being. The right to question a doctor's integrity should be fundamental, particularly when a patient's quality of life is at stake. However, the current system often intimidates and silences these patients, stripping them of dignity and forcing them to live in unnecessary agony. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Pain in 2019, approximately 20% of adults in the U.S. suffer from chronic pain. Yet, access to adequate pain management remains woefully inadequate. Harsh regulations and overly cautious medical practitioners, under pressure from a misinformed public discourse about opioid use, have resulted in a fascist-like regime where the voices of those in pain are stifled.

We must call for an end to this medical tyranny. Physicians should be held accountable for the ethical treatment of their patients, meaning that their medical assessments and decisions should prioritize the patient's needs and not be clouded by fear of legal repercussion or misconceptions about addiction risks. By providing transparent procedures for patients to question and review their treatment without fear of retaliation, the medical community can restore trust and maintain the highest standards of healthcare.

It is vital to advocate for pain patient rights, ensuring that every individual can access the medications necessary to live a meaningful and comfortable life. Join us in urging healthcare policymakers to institute reforms that will protect the rights of pain patients, allowing them to receive the care they desperately need and deserve.

Sign this petition to demand comprehensive reforms in pain management practices and to empower patients in the face of a coercive healthcare system.