Friday, June 15, 2012

ATLANTA (AP) -- A woman fighting a flesh-destroying disease is refusing to take pain medications during some procedures, partly because of her personal convictions.

The father of Aimee Copeland says his daughter despises the use of morphine in her treatment, despite its effectiveness at blocking her pain.

Andy Copeland said in a Friday update on his daughter's condition that her graduate-school study of holistic pain management techniques leads her to feel she's a "traitor to her convictions" when she uses drugs to manage her pain.

Copeland said morphine has been making his daughter groggy, confused and has given her unpleasant hallucinatory episodes.

The 24-year-old developed necrotizing fasciitis after cutting her leg in a fall May 1 from a homemade zip line. Her left leg, other foot and both hands have been amputated.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press.)