Woman with flesh-eating disease refusing pain meds

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ATLANTA (WKOW) -- A Georgia 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.

Andy Copeland says that her daughter's 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, right foot and both hands have been amputated.

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