Pain relief not a human right, blogger says

In case you didn't know, we now have a Global Day Against Pain or GDAP:

Treatment to alleviate pain is a human right, whether people are suffering from cancer, AIDS or any other distressing condition, a leading medical authority said, marking the first-ever Global Day Against Pain.

Let's make this short and simple: Pain relief is not a right, it's appropriate medical treatment (with the notable exception of TV sitcoms featuring women delivering). I thought American politicians were the only ones harboring secret "let's play doctor" fantasies. I stand corrected:

The occasion [GDAP] was being marked here by a conference of WHO and pain treatment specialists. It coincides with new recommendations by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on pain relief.

Why is the Council of Europe issuing medical recommendations? More importantly, what is it with this push to infuse assorted body functions, like the menstrual period and pain, with all sorts of social/moral/religious/political meaning? I mean, it's one thing for a [barely] human in a cave to employ magical thinking to explain the period. It's quite another for the WHO to co-sponsor a campaign designed to explain pain relief as a societal construct. I sense a trend and it's a dubious one.

In any case, just to be on the safe side I have already started preparations for the first-ever Global Day Against Operating With Dirty Hands.

[via a certain Ph.D....she gets a new RSS feed on her blog...I feel compelled to get one too...and end up discovering MyYahoo, reading the pain story, and spending way too much time customizing My Yahoo]

Update: A commenter points out my post might be a bit confusing:

I know, call me "Stupid" but I find your comments a little confusing. Since I'am a cancer survivor I like to think pain control is my right. Why is that even something you want to take issue with? Are you saying cancer (and the like) patients are only living a some what pain free life because we are at the mercy of your goodness? That it is "your" right as to rather we receive pain relief or not? Thats a scary thing, if you were to be that consumed with self-importance.

My point is that a patient experiencing pain shouldn't be at anyone's mercy. Pain relief is not a human right (a societal construct) to be conferred upon you, the patient, by a benevolent government, righteous religious people, or even self important doctors. You should expect pain relief because that's the standard of care, a medical fact dependent only on anatomy and physiology.

Rights are granted and can be revoked. Medical facts exist independently. You, in consultation with your physician should decide your medical care, not the government.