Pubdate: Thu, 12 Mar 2015
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Rakesh Bhandari
Page: A9
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n150/a06.html

HANDS OFF KETAMINE

Re: The UN Vs. 'Special K,' Jesse Kline, March 11.

The Chinese proposal to change the status of ketamine through UN's
International Narcotics Control Board is a stupid attempt to interfere
in the practice of medicine.

I have used ketamine for the past 37 years in my practice of
anesthesiology and acute pain medicine on four continents. It is my
No. 1 drug, with multiple painkillers, to treat acute and chronic pain.

It is a useful and safe drug for the developing world, where it can be
used by minimally trained staff to perform surgeries, such as
emergency caesarean sections. Even in a developed country such as
Canada it is an important medication for managing intractable
peri-operative pain.

The Canadian delegation to the narcotic control board should vote
against this attempt to criminalize an essential pain medication.
China and the United Nations have no business in dictating how
medicine should be practised.

Rakesh Bhandari, London, Ont.
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MAP posted-by: Matt