Re: “,” June 27 news story.
Your article raises important safety concerns about fentanyl for law enforcement; however, it omits mention of the important and safe medical uses of the medication.
In anesthesiology, fentanyl is an essential drug due to the very properties that make it dangerous on the street. Although it is highly potent, in appropriate doses and with appropriate monitoring, it is a safe medication with minimal side effects, making it one of the most commonly used pain relievers in the operating room.
We offer these points to help reassure patients and families who may learn that they or a loved one is receiving fentanyl in the operating room or hospital. We encourage patients to ask their physician about this or any other drug.
While the article raises legitimate concerns about the “street version” of fentanyl, when it is produced for and administered in a hospital setting, fentanyl is an excellent pain reliever and is essential to the delivery of anesthesia care.
Nathan Lamborn M.D., Denver
Daniel J. Janik, M.D., Denver
Janik is president of the Colorado Society of Anesthesiologists.
Submit a letter to the editor via or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
