Pubdate: Wed, 08 Aug 2012
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2012 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Maureen O'Hagan

HEMPFEST POT PRESCRIPTIONS COULD COST MEDICAL LICENSES

2 Naturopaths Face State Charges

Disciplinary Action Would Be a First Here

Two naturopaths are facing disciplinary action after a weekend of
writing medical marijuana authorizations at last year's Hempfest.

Carolyn Lee Bearss and Dimitrios "Jimmy" Magiasis were charged Tuesday
by the state Department of Health (DOH) with running a medical
marijuana "assembly line," writing authorizations at the festival
without following the proper standard of care. Between them, the
practitioners saw 216 patients at the three-day festival; they sent
only two away without an authorization, according to the statement of
charges.

They are the first Washington medical providers facing disciplinary
action in connection with writing marijuana authorizations, according
to Tim Church, a spokesman for the DOH.

Both naturopaths were working at the festival on contract for a
business that owns 4Evergreen Group, a clinic with locations in
Seattle and Tacoma. Eric Camm, an attorney for the practitioners, said
in a statement that his clients "strongly disagree with the
characterizations contained within those allegations," but declined
further comment.

According to a Seattle Times story written about the festival,
4Evergreen was handing out fliers at the entrance to the marijuana
festival advertising authorizations for $200 - or $150 for patients
who had their medical records with them. Patients watched a short
video about Washington's law, which allows qualified patients to
possess marijuana within certain limits, then had their chance to see
a medical provider.

The DOH did not receive any complaints about the practitioners' care;
instead, the agency opened an investigation after learning of the article.

"This isn't really necessarily about marijuana," Church said. "It's
more about the standard of care."

According to the statement of charges, the naturopaths wrote
authorizations based on examinations that were cursory; they didn't
fully delve into the causes of patients' complaints or order further
tests; they used generic, boilerplate language for their chart notes;
and they did not make arrangements for follow-up care. They also
authorized marijuana for patients whose pain was not "intractable" or
"terminal," as the law requires, and did not explore other treatment
options.

Under the law "you can't just jump to medical marijuana as a treatment
for pain," said Blake Maresh, executive director of the Board of
Naturopathy.

"This assembly line type of practice failed to meet the standard of
care because individualized treatment options were not adequately
rendered to the patient," according to the charges.

Philip Dawdy, media director for the Safe Access Alliance, said the
board appears to be holding the naturopaths to a different standard
than others. "At a busy primary care clinic, a doctor is going to see
more than 100 patients in three days," he said.

If Bearss or Magiasis is found to have committed the violations,
either could face medical-license revocation, suspension or
restrictions.

Although DOH does not appear to have taken disciplinary action against
a medical professional for recommending cannabis, the agency in July
charged a Tacoma physician, Dr. Scott Havsy, with advertising his
willingness to recommend it. Havsy plans to fight the charges.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt