Terminally ill patient refused transplant due to Medical Cannabis Use
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/26/health/main4048107.shtml
So, we have here a terminally ill patient. He is dying of liver failure caused by Hepatitis C. Apparently he was initially infected with Hepatitis C injecting himself with infected needles. He will die without a liver transplant. He is a candidate for a transplant despite his prior serious IV drug habit having caused his liver failure. So, his behavior and habits caused his liver to fail, yet the hospitals and insurance companies are OK with this fact.
This is a reasonable and caring position on the part of the hospital and insurance company. What is not remotely reasonable is the insurance company and hospital now saying he is not “covered” due to his use of Medical Cannabis! Prior IV drug injections causing Hepatitis C and now liver failure are “OK”, but the Cannabis use leads them to be concerned about drug addiction.
Most likely, if the Cannabis had caused some long term medical problem, they would have covered it, but there are NO long term problems caused by Cannabis.
Insurance companies always cover injuries from activities requiring the “patient” to wear a helmet for protection. I contend that any activity requiring a helmet is much more dangerous than using Cannabis. From Timothy Garin’s story, it is clear that the prejudice regarding medical cannabis causes much more harm than does cannabis.
Allan I Frankel, MD
wow that is so sad! what an insightful article and thank you for sharing.