To the Editor:Re “We’re Thinking About Pain All Wrong,” by Maia Szalavitz (Opinion guest essay, Dec. 26):Millions of people suffer from pain, which is by far the major symptom about which patients complain.
Despite the fact that most pain can be effectively controlled, too many suffer unnecessarily, many intolerably, because of the undertreatment of pain.
The vast majority of schools, inexplicably, do not have elective courses in pain management, and only a small percentage have required courses.
Our health care system has failed to provide the good pain management to which patients are entitled.
Ms. Szalavitz’s article should be another call to action to the federal and state governments, medical and nursing schools, and health care systems to make urgent, major improvements.
Persons:
Maia Szalavitz
Organizations:
of Medicine, Prevention, Education, Research, ”
Locations:
United States, Pain, America