----- Original Message -----

From: Adin Falkoff

To: L. D. Misek-Falkoff

Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 3:38 PM

Subject: [Fwd: Re: [portal-PWPI] *QUERY* After the Fifth AdHoc Meetings at the U.N., what are your thoughts on the focus of Articles?]

. . .

Date:	Wed, 06 Apr 2005 12:43:48 -0400
From:	Adin Falkoff <adfonatt@...>
To:	portal-PWPI@yahoogroups.com

Thank you for the opportunity to speak out here. I have answered the questions in Part 2, relating to PWP..
/ADF
. . .

> Draft Article 7 - PWP: Are there any undesirable measures aimed at equality which actually seem discriminatory?
> ADF/RESP: Not sure what measures are at issue in this question.
>
> Draft Article 8 - PWP: What measures do people with pain need and want to ensure enjoyment of life?
> ADF/RESP: PWP require recognition that their condition is real, despite the fact that it is (usually) invisible to a second person.
>
> Draft Article 8bis PWP: How are people with pain at increased risk and vulnerable?
 ADF/RESP: PWP are at increased risk (1) because their condition is overlooked or disbelieved because it is not readily visible, and (2) because the modalities for treating the condition may use drugs which have a bad reputation in other contexts.
> Draft Article 9 PWP: Are people with pain recognized equally as persons before the law, and in application of laws? >  ADF/RESP: In the application of laws such as the US ADA, one aspect of the criteria for determining the condition of disability may be absent: to wit, that the PWP may not be perceived as having a disability.
>
> Draft Article 9bis PWP: Are people with pain treated justly on equal basis with others?
ADF/RESP: It is distinctly possible that they are not, because they may not be perceived as disabled.
> Draft Article 10 PWP: How are liberty and security of persons effected by receptivity to people with pain?
>  ADF/RESP: Because it is often difficult for medical providers to objectify the pain, they may be too quick to conclude that it is imaginary and treat the PWP accordingly: deny helpful medication and/or suggest inappropriate hospitalization (confinement).
>
> Draft Article 11 PWP: Are people with pain subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment? > ADS/RESP: Don't know.
> Draft Article 12 PWP: How do violence or abuse or neglect effect people with pain, in homes or elsewhere?
ADF/RESP: They may be more l;ikely to be subjected to such treatment because of the frustration of authorities who do not know how to treat PWP/
> Draft Article 12bis PWP: What is needed to protect the physical and mental integrity of people with pain? > ADF/RESP: The reality of the disabilities imposed by pain must be recognized, and treatment modalities must be separated from societal concerns about such treatments (e.g., uuse of opioids).
> > Draft Article 13 PWP: Are people with pain able exercise right to freedom of expression, and opinion, and access to important information? > ADF/RESP: This would seem to be a matter of availability of individual resources.
>>Draft Article 14 PWP: Do people with pain experience arbitrary of unlawful interference with - or attacks on - privacy, family, home communication, attacks on honor or reputation?
> ADF/RESP: Again, because of the invisibility of the condition there may be a greater tendency for misunderstanding by/in the environment, leading to the effects noted.
>
> Draft Article 14 bis PWP: Do matters relating to family, reproductive, or other close-in issues especially impact pwp?
> ADF/RESP: Hard to say, in general. >
>
>-----Best wishes and send any questions, Dr. L. D. Misek-Falkoff, ldmf@....
>
>
> >