What do people think about this?

A Chesterfield GP could be struck off after supplying cannabis to a woman who was suffering with terminal cancer.

The patient was in extreme pain, so the doctor obtained cannabis from another of his patients, in order to relieve that pain.

Full story is here: http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=733535



My feeling is that he shouldn't be struck off - maybe he broke the law but he has the best interests of his patient at heart. If he is struck off, then we've probably lost a good doctor.

well there is certainly something wrong. I know of someone who has licence to grow their own through permission from their Doctor.

I guess it is down to council decrestion?

Moon

Originally posted by Moon Maiden
well there is certainly something wrong. I know of someone who has licence to grow their own through permission from their Doctor.

I guess it is down to council decrestion?

Moon

In this country?

in this city

albeit purported. I guess I should as to see the license. I can understand why the licence may have been awarded as they are not very well and would benefit from the properties of the plant if they took the licence up.

But they haven't

Moon

Well doctors can't prescribe cannabis in this country and the only people with cannabis growing licences are the companies that are participating in the current medicinal cannabis tests - individuals can't get a licence.

Back on topic, if he gets struck off then it's a disgrace - he's trying to help the patient. It's not his fault the Government are to useless to let him prescribe it. It's good that you can use cocaine and opium for medical reasons but not cannabis, honest :loopy:

i think you can be prescribed marijuana for MS...

Originally posted by Agent Dan
i think you can be prescribed marijuana for MS...
You can't, although some doctors do recommend it.

Originally posted by Sidla
You can't, although some doctors do recommend it. But it is an excuse you can legally use at Customs, I believe.

I also know of a doctor who recomended finding a dealer for a post natally depressed lady!
Unofficially of course. She didn't want to take the anti-depressants so it was all they could suggest to help on top of the counselling.

Moon

Originally posted by Moonolt
But it is an excuse you can legally use at Customs, I believe.
Any excuse is legal, but not necessarily valid. Wether or not you'd get away with it I don't know.

ive got fibromyalgia (if ya dont kn what it is try google) n its very similar to ms/me/chronic fatigue blah blah and i suffer with extreme pain alot of the day, along with IBS and I have never been recommended it by my doc but i do use cannibis when in extreme pain and also with my IBS. It is a known treatment. It really is amazing. Thing is, a couple of puffs does the trick for pain so theres no excuse to have a large amount. My Grandfathers doc told him to smoke it when he was dying with cancer, it really helped him deal with the pain.
linds

Even if you are a medicinal cannabis user Customs will still throw a dicky if they catch you with it. Medicinal users are not recognised legally and even if they did let you smoke it, they would not want it importing.

Cannabis is illegal in the UK, no amount of medical justification will change that - if they want to arrest and imprison you for possession, they can, even if you have MS, terminal cancer, fibromyalgia, cluster headaches, glaucoma, nausea, chronic pain, spamsms or anything else that herbal cannabis tends to help and relieve.

The doctor in question was treating a terminal patient in palliative care at home, who was not responding to normal painkillers. In the event, Dr. Thornton may have been involved in the assisted suicide of the patient, but I understand that matter is also under investigation at his request.

His senior partner at the surgery has come forward to commend this doctor for his attitude and commitment to the care of his patients.

His error of judgement, as far as the GMC is concerned is not that he supplied cannabis to a patient, but that he bought cannabis from another patient.

yes its illegal whatever the case but IMO its a shame people like me have to break the law just to have a break from being in excruciating pain.

It's a shame anyone has to break the law to put something they want to in their body.

Free drugs for everyone :)

So, where is this doctor and what's his name?

Dr. Thornton - Bolsover