Pain management, the standards from the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (PDF)

Use of opioid analgesics for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain – A consensus statement and guidelines from the Canadian Pain Society, 2002 (PDF)

Position Statement on Pain Relief
approved by the Executive of the Canadian Pain Society, December 13, 1997

Almost all acute and cancer pain can be relieved, and many patients with chronic non-malignant pain can be helped. Patients have the right to the best pain relief possible.

1. Unrelieved acute pain complicates recovery. Unrelieved pain after surgery or injury results in more complications, longer hospital stays, greater disability, and potentially long-term pain.
2. Routine assessment is essential for effective management. Pain is a subjective and highly variable experience. Therefore, patients' self-report of pain should be used whenever possible. For patients unable to report pain, a non-verbal assessment method must be used. 
   Health professionals have a responsibility to assess pain routinely, to believe patients' pain reports, to document them, and to intervene in order to prevent pain.
3. The best pain management involves patients, families, and health professionals. Patients and families must be informed that they have a right to the best pain relief possible and encouraged to communicate the severity of their pain. 

Patients, families, and health professionals need to understand pain management strategies, including non-pharmacological techniques and the appropriate use of opioids.