Citation

Krakauer EL, Wenk R, Buitrago R, Jenkins P, Scholten W. J. Pain Palliat. Care Pharmacother. 2010; 24(3): 239-243.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/15360288.2010.501852

PMID

20718644

Abstract

Strong opioids such as morphine are rarely accessible in low- and middle-income countries, even for patients with the most severe pain. The three cases reported here from three diverse countries provide examples of the terrible and unnecessary suffering that occurs everyday when this essential, inexpensive, and safe medication is not adequately accessible by patients in pain. The reasons for this lack of accessibility are explored, and ways to resolve the problem are proposed.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Adult; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Suicide; Fatal Outcome; Developing Countries; Dyspnea; Health Services Accessibility; Pain; Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Palliative Care; Terminally Ill; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Patient Rights; Prostatic Neoplasms; Morphine; Ovarian Neoplasms; Neoplasm Metastasis