PAIN RALLY &
PRESS CONFERENCE

- Support efforts to pass a Mississippi Chronic Pain Treatment Act

- Support Mississippi physicians who treat chronic pain patients

- Voice concerns about the devastating actions of the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure toward physicians who treat chronic pain

Thursday, May 1, 2003, 12noon
State Capitol
Jackson, Mississippi

For More Information Contact:

MISSISSIPPI COALITION FOR PATIENT RIGHTS
& CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
Virginia Brooks, President
662-334-6204 775-640-0875 Fax
e-mail:

AMERICAN PAIN INSTITUTE, Mississippi Chapter
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., President
662-247-1471 662-247-1384 Fax
e-mail:

www.ARPainCoalition.com

Chronic Pain Treatment Act
Advocated for Mississippi

(Jackson, Mississippi) - The Mississippi Coalition For Patient Rights and Chronic Pain Management and the American Pain Institute, Mississippi Chapter will be hosting a Pain Rally and Press Conference this week to launch a statewide campaign for the passage of a Mississippi Chronic Pain Treatment Act.

"Thousands of Mississippi citizens suffer needlessly from chronic, intractable pain," states Virginia Brooks, President of the Mississippi Coalition For Patient Rights and Chronic Pain Management and a chronic pain patient. "Many people have chosen suicide over living in constant pain. Mississippi should join 14 other states, including Arkansas and Tennessee, in the passage of a Mississippi Chronic Pain Treatment Act."

"Physicians in Mississippi are afraid to prescribe appropriate medication to treat our chronic pain condition because they fear repercussions from the Mississippi State Medical Board," states Brooks. "There are no pain management specialists on the medical board. We must have a chronic pain treatment act to protect our doctors and allow them to treat us with the best that modern medicine has to offer."

"Physicians who treat chronic pain patients have had their medical license and DEA certificates revoked by the Mississippi State Medical Board," states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & President of the American Pain Institute, Mississippi Chapter, Baptist Medical Missionary and Family Practice physician in Tchula, Belzoni and Greenville, MS. "Adequate medication is available to treat patients in chronic pain, Many of them could then return to work and lead productive lives. The actions of the Mississippi State Medical Board are inexcusable and irresponsible!'"

The Pain Rally and Press Conference will be held Thursday, May 1, 2003, at 12noon, on the steps of the South side of the State Capitol and the first floor Rotunda, in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information contact Virginia Brroks at 662-334-6204; e-mail: or Dr. Myers at 662-247-1471; e-mail: web sites: www.ARPainCoalition.com.