cannabisnews.com: Taking a Leaf From 'Pot Docs'





Taking a Leaf From 'Pot Docs'
Posted by CN Staff on November 05, 2004 at 22:04:38 PT
By Eric Bailey, Times Staff Writer
Source: Los Angeles Times 
Santa Barbara -- After nearly four decades in medicine, Dr. David Bearman seems the incarnation of a trusted old-school physician. His resume is long, his record unblemished. It's his choice of treatment that makes him conspicuous.For nearly every patient, Bearman recommends the same remedy: marijuana. There is the young lady with epileptic seizures, the middle-aged man with multiple sclerosis, the amputee bedeviled by phantom limb pain.
Bearman's practice, based on a controversial curative not found on pharmacy shelves, has proved both lonely and professionally perilous.Although the courts have upheld a doctor's right to recommend cannabis for the seriously ill, few dare do so. Among the exceptions is a tight-knit cadre of about 15 California physicians. Dubbed "pot docs," even by friends, they blithely claim credit for nearly half the estimated 100,000 marijuana recommendations issued in the eight years since California approved medical use of the drug.There is Bearman in Santa Barbara and Dr. Frank Lucido, a family doctor in Berkeley. Dr. Tod Mikuriya, a peripatetic Bay Area medical marijuana pioneer, has written approvals for 8,000 patients. A presidential drug czar once lambasted his brand of medicine as a "Cheech and Chong show."The criticism has been accompanied by intense scrutiny. At least 11 of the cannabis doctors have weathered investigations by the Medical Board of California. Half the cases closed without formal accusations. But a few drew blood.One Northern California physician settled for three years of professional probation rather than fight accusations that a few of his marijuana patients had no medical need. Another doctor, accused of fabricating pot approvals, lost his right to practice for two years while the disciplinary case played out. He settled for five years' probation.Medical Board officials say the problem is not the marijuana, but the way the doctors practice medicine. Are patients thoroughly examined? Do the doctor discuss other options?Joan Jerzak, the Medical Board's chief investigator, says that some doctors eager to legalize recreational use "don't mind flouting the law."But to the pot docs, the attacks are about old grudges that will not die. They say they've been singled out by a law enforcement establishment still displeased over passage of Proposition 215, the 1996 ballot measure that legalized marijuana for the seriously ill."Their attitude is, 'This isn't medicine, but rather a way to abet drug abusers,' " said Dr. Philip Denney, who practices as if every patient is a federal narcotics agent. "They have scared the hell out of California doctors, and it's been left to us so-called mavericks."The cannabis doctors say they practice serious medicine, focusing on the sick and weeding out habitual pot smokers simply looking for protection from arrest. Marijuana remains a remarkably safe substance, the pot docs say, with tremendous therapeutic potential for AIDS wasting, chemotherapy nausea and other grave conditions.Aside from the pot docs, oncologists and HIV physicians write the bulk of the cannabis recommendations.Bearman, a 63-year-old family practitioner, sees his share of serious cases every week. Sleeves rolled up, graying walrus mustache arched, he is upbeat and avuncular as the ill and injured hobble in. But he figures it may be years before marijuana is accepted by the medical establishment — and by the criminal justice system."There's no doubt," he said, "this is part of a larger cultural war at play."Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/potdocs.htmSource: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: Eric Bailey, Times Staff WriterPublished: November 5, 2004Copyright: 2004 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.http://www.mikuriya.com/Witch-Hunt Victim or Shoddy Doc? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19668.shtmlBoards Scrutinize Doctors Over Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18669.shtmlThe Cannabis Consultantshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19377.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on November 13, 2004 at 13:06:21 PT
Letters To The Editor: The 'Pot Docs' Controversy
Eric Bailey's article, "Taking a Leaf From 'Pot Docs' " (Nov. 6), once again underscores the absurdity of the government's perverse action against trained physicians who prescribe marijuana for the seriously ill. Time would be better spent directing energies where real harm is done instead of harassing healthcare providers who distribute a substance that really makes a positive difference for people who face severe medical issues. I should know because I am the dad of Nick Feldman, Dr. Frank Lacido's patient described in this article. Nick may get through the day with a "little help from a friend," but if it were not for the support of a licensed physician, his options would be limited to the street. There is no wonder why government officials, sipping their third pre-dinner martini, get the terms hypocritical and Hippocratic mixed up. Richard FeldmanLos Angeles*The excellent article about "pot docs" reveals Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft's mean-spirited attitude trickling down to our medical care. The war on drugs is a total failure; we should surrender and make better use of our time and resources. The war on drugs drains our economy of billions a year and has done little to reduce drug use. Treatment of drug abusers is more effective and much less costly than maintenance as a prison inmate. Cutting back on our current methods of fighting drug use would free up money and personnel for counter-terrorism efforts. The current harassment of doctors who advocate medical use of marijuana shows lack of compassion by the conservatives now in power. We need them to change their course and use methods that are both sensible and effective. Carl SwallowManhattan Beach*The source of abuse by "pot docs" is the law's calculated, expansive wording. It refers to use by "seriously ill Californians," but marijuana can be "recommended by a physician" if a "health benefit" is found for treatment of "cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain … or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief." The words, "any other illness," could, for example, encompass marijuana for an upset stomach, rather than Pepto-Bismol. The words "provides relief" and "a health benefit" are standardless.Many assumed that a physician's "recommendation" was synonymous with a written prescription. Not so. A "recommendation" could be oral and also without any record whatsoever. Also, many would assume a physician would be a sufficient check on abuse. Not so. Finally, the law [approved as Proposition 215] authorizes marijuana cultivation by "the patient" and a "primary caregiver." This initiative and those in 10 other states have been devious methods to move to full legalization of marijuana. Billionaire George Soros of New York has been a prime bankroller of these measures, spending over $550,000 on the California initiative alone.Robert E. HayesPolitical science professorLong Beach State*You don't have to look any further than the extreme irony of Dr. Tod Mikuriya's case to see that the Medical Board of California really is on a witch hunt. It took action against him for violating accepted medical standards in recommending marijuana. The irony is that the board has never published such standards. The greater irony is that Mikuriya has been actively campaigning to get the board to adopt standards and has submitted suggested standards himself, even before the case was brought against him. In the end, it is persecuting him because of its own failure to act. This is an open and obvious vendetta against the law already approved by the voters of California. Clifford SchafferDirector, DRCNet OnlineLibrary of Drug PolicyAgua Dulcehttp://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-le-potdocs13nov13,1,639636.story?coll=la-news-comment
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Comment #3 posted by goneposthole on November 06, 2004 at 08:29:09 PT
let them suffer
I suppose the doctors could prescribe some gambling or booze to their patients. That's legal, so it would be ok. The 'criminal justice' system wouldn't bat an eye.When it comes to ritalin, no child is left behind. Maybe the sick, ailing and dying should first go to the local law enforcement facility for treatment. Looks like law enforcement officials feel that they are more qualified to know what is needed for a patient's treatment than the doctors do. Talk to your local police officer and ask him what should be done to treat your glaucoma. He would know which potion you would need. Maybe even let a little blood now and then. You might even be able to get your hair cut, too. A one-stop place for the average jane or joe to receive police protection, medical treatment and get groomed all in one shot! It'd be great.It would be illegal to file malpractice lawsuits.Kind of a Monty Python thing. Bring out your dead and all that stuff.Law enforcement officials make better doctors than doctors. Better barbers than barbers and are really good at law enforcement. How can you go wrong?
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Comment #2 posted by siege on November 06, 2004 at 08:04:23 PT
lives 
It is time to get the judges to issue restraining orders or Injection  to the Medical Board Officials and Joan Jerzak the Medical Board's chief investigator,California Attorney General's Office, To get out of the Doctors Offices and the lives of the doctors and there Patients so they can do what they have to to keep the patients health and Treatment stable so there lives can be lived to the fullest. The case boils down to how rigorous an examination doctors must perform when recommending Marijuana to patients
who is the primary and who is the sen deary the sen deary just doze what the primary tells him to DO.
and if the primary is to afraid to give recommended Marijuana he should have his NUTS cut off.
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on November 06, 2004 at 07:35:08 PT
Children
Why doesn't Ms. Jerzak send some undercover kids to doctors asking for Ritalin and suicide-inducing Prozac? I wonder how many of them would get "the green light"?
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