Paul Volkman was a University of Chicago-trained doctor who seemed destined for greatness. Instead, he was sentenced to life in prison for the prescriptions he wrote that devastated southern Ohio and the surrounding areas. In the tradition of true crime, Philip Eil tells Volkman's story and the sordid history that led to the American opioid epidemic. In the 1980s and 1990s, following decades of criticism for not considering patients' pain, medical doctors recognized it as the Fifth Vital Sign. However, unlike heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature, pain cannot be easily measured. Into the breach, unscrupulous doctors and businesspeople stepped in, seeding devastation for patients, towns and families. Volkman may be the most egregious example, but the results of his actions were echoed across the country.

To read Philip's book:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739577/prescription-for-pain-by-philip-eil/

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