Tips to create a firmer ground requesting prescriptions Medical Cannabis at doctors or hospitals.
Chapters: I. Cannabis Specific tips II. Examples and III. Disease / condition specific tips.
Org 2013 - Updated 2021 Editor( s ) Jeroen van den Bergh den Dulck email Hemp and Cannabis for Health community
This article in Italian on ThecannabisWorld, translated and adapted by Luca Zarathustra Lecca,
collaborator of the Comitato Pazienti Cannabis Medica (medical Cannabis Patients Committee)
and Italian representative at the Council of Patients of the IACM, International Association for Cannabis as Medicine.
This page as Pdf download ( 309 kb ) at bottom or Dutch.
Pro/disclaimer / Medical Disclosure : When having physical and/or mental health problems, complaints or questions, always visit a governmental recognized certified physician, clinical psychologist or psychiatrist (or two). She / he is the primary care provider in the health care chain as well as your confidential counselor. She / he is allowed to, and should help you with prescriptions medicinal cannabis, or its applications or a prescription " magistral preparation " so every pharmacy should be able to make tinctures or oils. They could and should help you also with writing letters of recommendation / requests for compensation at your health care insurance.
Updated 2016 - Every day I speak patients who had problems with hospital doctors or their family Gp because of requesting prescriptions medicinal cannabis. Media talks about 75% of physicians is 'willing to prescribe'. In real life those doctors can not be found. It might be more 1 out of 30. They are afraid to become known as cannabis doctor to colleagues and patients. Remember, every time doctors write prescriptions he already earns money. Regardless of, what is on it. If you say, you are on doctor's prescribed medication, someone else might think: ,, Then it must be real, doctors do not just give drugs away for nothing ". Once you say, you use cannabis for the same complaints, people don't hear, think or ask anything more. Not how you use it, how much and if it helps. Most common side effect is abuse of the word 'addict or junk'. Even by doctors.
May 2016 Update:
Recently I read my own text, this article again, in an article about the I.A.C.M. bulletin written by a dutch Patient organization in a February 2016 copy of High Life Magazine. See the part marked yellow, nearly 35% of two pages. Well, then my texts must be good, Right ?. Unfortunately no reference to me, my site or google plus group. Highlife Magazine has an online publication and a paper print run of 13.000. While it is been said we have 1 million recreational users. Visitors of dutch coffeeshops can take a magazine for free.
Each physician, clinical psychologist or psychiatrist is certified to prescribe cannabis or its magistral preparations.
- Pharmacy and eight out of ten doctors do not want medical cannabis in your garden.
- 50% of doctors does not give lifestyle advice. But do give recipes.
- 50% of patients do not even dare to ask their doctor a question .
- Every substance can be a poison for one and be a party for someone else. This is the origin of Medicine.
- Each pharmaceutical is directly or indirectly started with plant medicine.
- Any pill can potentially cause cell proliferation. Doctors learn this in their education.
- Long-term medication remains bad for stomach liver kidneys and blood vessels.
- Experimental treatments, surgery or drugs may be dangerous. We do not know all long term effects.
- The ethical side of your medical case, your long term medical and health-choice, is your responsibility.
- Prepare support care for yourself because not every doctor will do it.
- Cannabis has little side / adverse effects and less effects on long term compared with pharmacy.
- It can not be proven that cannabis is not working.
- We do normally say it simple as with paracetamol; That it works or it does not work..
- If it's not you're idea, don't do it. Some win, some loose. Some choose.
Just to display some random numbers for the perspective : in the Netherlands with
17 million inhabitants and perhaps half of us on prescribed medication, p/year we Dutch have about;
- 2765 cases of paracetamol poisoning, incl. 700 teenagers, and maybe 2000 deaths p/year. *.
- 4.000.000 on blood thinners
- 1.7 million at max. point, on prescribed gastric acid blockers.
- 450.000 use painkillers.
- 300.000 use psychoactive sedatives, Some figures say 600.000 to 800.000.
- 265.000 use sleeping pharmaceuticals.
- 2500 to 5000 patients use dutch medicinal cannabis of Bedrocan® Netherlands **.
* Real figures could be higher due not all incidents are reported.
** Supervised by dutch Office for Medicinal Cannabis - part of Ministry of Health Official Website
January 16, 2013 - We have just heard in the Netherlands there could be 6.2% or 1.2 million Dutch with diabetes in the next 10-20 years. In the US there are now 8.3% or 25.8 million people affected by diabetes. That is Diagnosed 18.8 million and Undiagnosed about 7 million. The thought is that it will increase 20-25% in 10-20 years time.
1) Two patients are discharged from hospital. With one and the same major diagnosis. Patient A. goes back to the hospital daily for treatment. Patient B remains at home.
Who is the real patient. Patient A is quickly seen as "nagging". And patient B just gets all the nagging. Because '' if it was bad enough '' you would go see a doctor.
2) Patient has been prescribed synthetic drugs for years. Refills were given without problems or interference of doctor seeing patient. Patient now says he wants to try cannabis.
Doctor reacts: You are crazy / addict / junk / or your illness may be something else or in your head. Reaction of the patient could be ;
a) Was that a diagnosis?. Write it in my medical file, so other specialists can read it was your diagnosis.
b) My illness was real when you prescribed the oxycodone / hydrcodone / morphine ?.
3) Doctor says: You might get addicted to it. Patient is allowed to say: Not that quick with normal use of normal amounts spread throughout the day.
Patients using cannabis still can be placed under anesthesia when it is really necessary. After 10/20 years use of morphine it would be more difficult.
Even after 10, 20 years of cannabis use it is fairly simple to stop using the drug. Many synthetic drugs will make my body more dependent and can disrupt
many bodily functions and systems. In addition, each synthetic medication can can cause uncontrolled cell growth in potential.
4) Doctor says: Cannabis is way too expensive. Patient might say; Right but that's not my fault. Each synthetic drug is also sold far too expensive while it can be made for 50 cent ,
just as 1 gram cannabis. You could calculate what your medicine costs are now AND were over the past year / years. And so what you save when using cannabis.
5) Doctor says: Cannabis is dangerous. You can get psychosis. Patient could say: Not with normal use of normal amounts. Dozens of studies " in favor of " and " against " have been done and
even by armies on 10.0000to 25.0000 soldiers where 6 to 15 gram per person was used. To much cannabis can give effect as fatigue or exhaustion or mild hallucinogenic effects which will
disappear in 3 to 24 hour. At its longest period of time, the effects can last for 3 days when consuming lots of foods with a lot of cannabis. These effects should not be named acute psychosis.
The disease psychosis occurs in 0,5 to 2% of our population who are already predisposed. Similar to studies among the general population.
6) Doctor says: I am not a supporter of cannabis. Patient can say: I am not a supporter of synthetic drugs.
They can be bad for stomach / liver and kidneys. Besides enlarged risk of thrombosis, diabetes, cell proliferation and cancers.
III. Disease / condition specific Tips and Questions
for when at doctors / medical professionals.
Source " Choice must be an option ''. Subtitle: '' Making good choices is only possible if you have the right information ".
This question guide is part of a campaign in which Consumers Union is fighting for open and honest conversation.
Read more / talk with us on www.kiezenmoetkunnen.nl
PDF ( Dutch ) 5 question for your General practitioner.
PDF ( Dutch ) 7 questions for the specialist.
PDF ( Dutch ) 5 questions for a medical examination.
* What does my condition exactly mean ?. Discuss the medical consequences.
Side effects of medications, a special diet ;as well as the impact on your activities
About what you can do better, or leave, now and possibly in the future.
* What other treatments are there or possible in addition to what medical specialist / hospital offers.
What are the pros and cons of the other treatments ?.
* Why did doctor or specialist choose this treatment and is it also the best for me ?
Specialists and general practitioners have guidelines for the best treatment of various diseases.
Sometimes they deliberately deviate from it or make other considerations then you would make yourself.
Together you can list the arguments in a row. The ethical side of your case is your responsibility.
* Who will perform the treatment ?.
If you want, your own physician can perform the treatment instead of a colleague or assistant.
How often has the doctor who is going to operate to me done this surgery in the past year ?.
For many surgeries it is required doctors have gone through a learning curve.
Especially for heavy or / and difficult procedures.
The more experienced: the smaller the chance of errors and complications .
* What are the risks of complications of this surgery, treatment or research.
How big is the risk on complications and what are the consequences ?
Is there a risk of prolonged hospitalizations / re - operations or permanent damage or death .
* What should I take into account, for the length of hospital stay and recovery.
Whether rehabilitation or assistance is needed in your house .
* Why do you refer me to this hospital ?
General practitioners often refer you to a specialist or hospital that they know
It may be that other hospitals have more choice, specialization or experience with your condition.
* Which anesthesia are possible and what are the pros and cons ?.
The best anesthesia and surgery varies per patient.
* What does this research / study demonstrate and what not ?.
Limitations, further research ?. Are there alternatives to this research ?.
* How does the research / study work ?. Preparation, aftermath: can you eat before / after ?.
* Make a clear agreement on when you get the results and how.
Date, time, telephone, letter, personal communication.
* Should you wait longer than agreed ?. Talk upfront on how to contact GP, specialist or hospital.
With a lot of questions even if they occur during a consultation with a specialist
please contact your GP. This is used to give clear and plain language.
For many disorders informational leaflets exists. Please ask your specialist or GP.
Doubts ?. Ask for a second opinion through your or another G.P., surgeon or health care insurers.
Inform in advance if your insurance company will reimburse this.
