Is the word "narcotic" appropriate in patient care?.
Pain continues to be undertreated, and numerous barriers to adequate pain management have been identified. Some clinicians believe that the words which health professionals use to describe analgesics may be a hidden barrier. Possible implications of using the term "narcotic" are described.
Craig
David S
DS
Pain and Palliative Care Service, Psychosocial, Pallative Care, and Intergrative Medicine Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. craigds@moffitt.usf.edu