Doctors Should Prescribe Opioids for People in Pain, CDC Says - WSJ

Federal officials said inflexible rules around the prescription of opioids have harmed some patients, urging doctors to exercise compassion in alleviating pain.

After a decade of intrusive criminal prosecution and massive civil lawsuits, I’m thinking they’re not going to fall for it.

The problem has exacerbated disparities in care, the CDC said. Black patients receiving prescription opioids are less likely to be referred to a pain specialist than white patients and are more likely to receive lower doses of medication for their pain, the CDC said. Disparities in access to treatment are driving up overdose rates among Black and Native American people as drug deaths reach record highs across the country, the CDC has said.

Is DOJ now going to bring civil rights cases against doctors for not prescribing opioids?