Medical marijuana and organ transplants don't mix

[flashl]

Patients who have used doctor-prescribed pot are being turned away from hospital transplant programs.

SEATTLE -- Should using doctor-prescribed marijuana be a deal-breaker for someone needing an organ transplant? It is not a theoretical question but a pressing and emotional one confronting hospitals and patients in states where medical use of marijuana is legal.

This month, Timothy Garon, 56, a Seattle musician, died after being turned down for a liver transplant. He was rejected partly because he had used medical marijuana.

Now, a second critically ill patient in Washington state says he has been denied a spot in two organ transplant programs because he uses doctor-prescribed marijuana.

...

Douglas Hiatt argues that his clients are the victims of a loosely defined transplant policy, one not based on science.

"They are really killing people over this," he said.

LA Times

[glowing]

1. Yet, if you are a patient who excesively used alcohol and ruined your

liver will still be eligible for one.. I do hope Obama does something about marijuana.. this b.s. about a plant is ridiculous.

[flashl]

2. It creates appearance that medical community is conflicted when it comes of MJ. nt

[sabbat hunter]

4. not if you are still drinking

if you ruin your liver via drinking, and are still drinking, you are ineligible for a liver transplant.

[droidamus2]

3. It should be a problem

There is so much BS surrounding medical marijuana and people/doctors/administrators letting their personal bias get in the way of treating patients. A little story, in the early 1970's I lived in Northern California and was part of a theater group. One of the members of our cast had a major accident while cutting down trees on his property that landed him in the hospital. While he was there many of the cast members visited him including myself. I remember us standing in his hospital room smoking (okay for obvious reasons my memory is a little hazy) either pot or hash. The nurses and doctors only comments were to keep the door closed to try and control the smell. Their attitude seemed to be that as long as it made the patient feel better they had no problem with it. Of course then the law and the politicians get involved and very few facilities would even let you stay and would probably have you arrested. The needs of the patients should override the need of ideologues to make political points.

[andres hunter]

5. I don't see why not

It helps ease the pain.