Pubdate: Thu, 19 May 2011 Source: Missoulian (MT) Copyright: 2011 Missoulian Contact: http://www.missoulian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/720 Author: Michael Geci SB423 DESTROYS PATIENT PRIVACY Going to your doctor used to be a private matter, but not for long. What medication you need is not something the government has any business knowing or dictating. Governments don't go to medical school, people who become doctors do. Yet if Senate Bill 423, the medical marijuana reform bill, becomes law, any physician certifying 25 or more patients for the use of medical marijuana triggers an investigation before the state medical board. No probable cause other than recommending a patients' suitability to use medical marijuana under existing law. How many physicians in the state will subject themselves to a career-blemishing investigation? SB423 also requires patients to see two physicians before using chronic pain as a qualifying condition. This is an unreasonable expense on the patient and discriminates against patients with chronic pain. As an emergency physician, I've learned pain is relative. I've seen patients in pain from a myriad of conditions, some serious, some not. Pain is complex. One study reported 85 percent of women with chronic pain have a childhood history of sexual or physical abuse. Which of the legislators who concocted this bill has practiced medicine? If Montanans were mad about Obamacare, they should be livid about SB423. The bill is repeal in disguise, setting dangerous precedent regarding the way medicine may be practiced in Montana. And please, let's not forget that a mere 62 percent of the voter's in Montana voted for reasonable and safe access to medical marijuana. The medical marijuana program needs significant reform. The Governor had until May 13 to veto the bill; it becomes law on July 1. Michael Geci Bozeman - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.