Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jul 2014
Source: State Journal-Register (IL)
Copyright: 2014 The State Journal-Register
Contact: http://service.sj-r.com/forms/letters.asp
Website: http://www.sj-r.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/425
Author: Judy Kreamer

DOCTORS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

It may well be that health care providers in Springfield are mum on
medical marijuana because of the potential liability associated with
it. Just last week a Florida jury awarded Cynthia Robinson, whose
husband died of lung cancer, $23.6 billion in punitive damages from
R.J. Reynolds.

Paving the way for the verdict was the state's Supreme Court's ruling
making it easier to prove that Big Tobacco knowingly sold dangerous
products and hid the hazards of cigarette smoking. The Court said that
smokers and their families needed only to prove addiction and
illnesses or death.

The dangers of marijuana are well documented. Based upon years of
research the Food and Drug Administration has concluded that
"marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use
in the United States, and lacks an acceptable level of safety for use
even under medical supervision."

Physicians who are considering recommending marijuana should be
checking their medical malpractice insurance. They may find that
recommending the use of a non-FDA approved medication is excluded from
coverage.

Judy Kreamer Educating Voices, Inc. Naperville
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