[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 186 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. DENNIS SANDLIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 11, 2009

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the late Doctor Dennis Sandlin, a Kentucky physician who lost his life, 
standing fast in the face of danger to practice ethical and responsible 
medicine in a medically underserved region, inundated with poverty and 
drug addiction.
  On December 8, 2009, Doctor Sandlin was tragically murdered in front 
of nurses and staff at the Leatherwood-Blackey Medical Clinic in Perry 
County, Kentucky. Doctor Sandlin routinely refused to give doctor-
shopping drug seekers a prescription for pain pills without passing 
proper evaluation. He refused to allow his practice to be part of the 
drug epidemic, although many physicians in the past have given in to 
fear of demands and threats by drug seekers across the region. After 
being denied narcotics for a second time that morning, a patient 
returned to Doctor Sandlin's office and fatally shot him in the head.
  Doctor Sandlin returned home to Perry County, after graduating from 
the University of Louisville's School of Medicine, to provide 
healthcare to less fortunate individuals. He served generations of 
families for 28 years until his untimely death. Doctor Sandlin's 
medical practice may be over, but his style of practice will live on as 
the pinnacle of good medicine.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in memory of Doctor 
Dennis Sandlin. In my opinion, he died a hero. Every physician, 
pharmacist, law enforcement official, medical and pharmacy student can 
learn from Doctor Sandlin's tenacity to practice responsible medicine 
and never give place to fear.

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