This week, On Point with Juandolyn Stokes hosted an exclusive panel discussion on The Criminalization of Black and Brown Doctors, an issue that the average person is most likely completely unaware is happening. Apparently, doctors of color are being targeted by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for what is typical for medical doctors, prescribing medicine and making Medicare claims.
The panelist included: Dr. Shiva Akula, Infectious Disease; Dr. Felix Brizuela, Neurologist; Dr. Norman Clement, Dentist/Pharmacist; Dr. Dralves Edwards, Family Medicine/Sports Medicine; Dr. Lesly Pompy, Anesthesiologist, Pain Medicine, and Pain Addiction; and Dr. Walter Wrenn, Internal Medicine.
According to data that was shared with OPWJS, doctors of color within a particular age range, and who are financially successful are seen as "dispensable." Dr. Clement referred to the practices of the government as "regulatory racism." Each of the doctors on the panel has had contact with the Federal government ranging from DEA raids to serving Federal prison time.
While negative contact with the Federal government is certainly detrimental to the doctors who are unjustly being targeted, it hurts the community far more.
Dr. Wrenn said, "75% of the people who can no longer get their medicine, particularly pain medicines from their doctors [who have been removed from practice by the government] are at risk of dying."
He added, "20% of those patients commit suicide."
One doctor who called into the show from Hawaii maintains the reasons why doctors of color are targeted is because the government and its agencies are run by white men who feel threatened by their success.
Due to the overwhelming response of this show, OPWJS will air Part 2 of this panel in March.
