Ethics for Medical Marijuana...Suggestions?

Question

ok I plan to be a doctor and a friend and I were talking about medical marijuana. I think that if a patient was suffering from a condition that they thought that marijuana was helping than it would be ethical for me to prescribe it for them. And unethical for me not to.

What do you think should guide the decision to prescribe marijuana for medicinal reasons?

BTW I don't smoke marijuana. And I do want to be responsible.

Answer 1

If there exists a legitimate medical purpose for it, I see absolutely no reason for restricting marijuana. For that matter, I don't see why it is illegal anyway.

Personally, I do not use it.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I answered a question like this earlier. And good for you on going into medicine. I'm in med school right now. Here are a couple reasons we prescribe marijuana. Any more questions just email me.

Okay, here is the scenario. You have cancer. You under
go chemotherapy treatment. The chemotherapy makes you sick and nauseas. You cannot continue your treatment if you keep throwing it up. You need something to calm down your system so you can recieve further life-saving treatment. Your doctor perscribes medicinal marijuana. You smoke it. You're no longer naseaus. You continue your treatment.

Scenario Two: You are terminally ill. You have 3 months to live at most. Your dying from the inside out. You are in constant pain. You ccannot enjoy you're final three months. Your doctor prescribes marijuana to dull the pain. You live out your last months in the company of friends and family, and are no longer in pain but comfortable.

Medicinal marijuana is not handed out in large quantities, we aren't getting our patient's blasted!

Answer 4

First, see this:

"Although I understand many believe marijuana is the most effective drug in combating their medical ailments, I would caution against this assumption due to the lack of consistent, repeatable scientific data available to prove marijuana's medical benefits.

Based on current evidence, I believe that marijuana is a dangerous drug and that there are less dangerous medicines offering the same relief from pain and other medical symptoms."

Bill Frist, M.D.
U.S. Senator (R-TN)
Correspondence to ProCon.org
October 20, 2003

Now, see this:

"The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS -- or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is
less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day."

Joycelyn Elders, M.D.
Former U.S. Surgeon General
Editorial, Providence Journal
March 26, 2004

Now, decide the way you want!

Answer 5

Well you could just move to the states passing these kinds of prescriptions like cali, nevada, etc. where you wouldnt be persecuted for giving it to people who needed it. I do smoke it recreationally / for insomnia and dont see why it was ever made illegal to begin with, other than taxation and revenue from other countries, its rediculous. Alcohol causes way more problems. I think you shouldnt risk your job no matter what, but maybe contribute to the fight to allow it at least in all hospitals.

Answer 6

As a doctor, you would be unethical unless it was legal. It is really stupid that opiates are legal and pot is not as it does seem to help some people with their appetites. You cannot really use treatments that are not sanctioned by medicine in general. Doing something that is illegal, even if beneficial would destroy your career. The strict protocols probably save more people than if people were experimenting.

Answer 7

prescribing marijuana for medicinal reasons , is OK

I do use HASHISH and I feel no harm to my health.

Answer 8

ANOREXIA-since pot gives people the munchies i would think that this would encourage some weight gain.