Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2002
Source: Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic (CN MB)
Copyright: 2002 Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/1993
Website: http://www.portagelaprairiedailygraphic.com/
Author: Leslie Bryde
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

DOCTORS RELUCTANT TO PRESCRIBE POT

Many doctors in Manitoba say they have a problem with the federal 
government's decision to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.

"The drug ... has never been studied in such a way to know what the effects 
are going to be and what the dosage should be," said Dr. Mike Omichinski, 
co-chairman of the medical advisory committee for the Regional Health 
Authority - Central Manitoba Inc.

The doctors' concerns about the legislation were taken to the RHA's board 
of directors in hopes it will develop a policy.

The regional health authority has no plan to deal with the use of medicinal 
marijuana, particularly in hospitals.

A number of issues will have to be taken into account when developing a 
policy, said Dr. Chris Burnett, the RHA's vice-president of medical services.

"The most common way of using marijuana is to smoke it. All of our health 
care facilities have non-smoking policies. That would certainly have to be 
looked at," he said. "Of course, this will only be necessary if the RHA 
decides, based on the available research, that marijuana should be made 
available for medical purposes (in hospitals)."

There's been no indication from regional health authority board members 
whether a decision on the matter will be made anytime soon.

In the meantime, the primary regulation governing doctors is the physicians 
code of conduct. It says doctors must recommend only those diagnostic and 
therapeutic procedures that are considered beneficial to their patients or 
others.

"Whenever we prescribe a medication, we discuss risks and benefits. There's 
no knowledge out there about risks and benefits of (marijuana). It's all 
anecdotal. It's not been obtained by scientific means," said Omichinski, a 
Portage la Prairie doctor. "As a result, a lot of doctors won't prescribe 
marijuana to the patients who want it."

Omichinski admitted he is one of those physicians.

He said since there is no medicinal supply of marijuana, numerous patients 
throughout the region have asked their doctors to fill out government 
documents to allow them to cultivate and possess cannabis.

"I've been approached to fill out the government forms, which are quite 
lengthy," he said. "Some of the questions that are asked, (doctors) just 
can't answer because there's no scientific data, so I have no problems not 
prescribing marijuana."

He isn't the only Portage doctor who feels that way.

"The majority of my colleagues agree on this issue. They won't prescribe 
the drug until there's more information, more scientific evidence to show 
that it works," added Omichinski. "You don't just go giving medication 
willy-nilly to people because it might work. There has to be a basis."

He's called on the federal government to conduct further studies on the 
drug and its supposed medical benefits.

That's something the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba is also 
demanding.

"There ought to be properly controlled, carefully controlled academic 
studies as with any other medication," said Dr. Bill Pope, college 
registrar. "They should look at the side-effects and most importantly 
compare it to other medications. But as far as we are concerned, 
(marijuana) is absolutely never the number one choice of medication."

Pope said the college has also advised its 2,100 members to make an 
informed decision before writing prescriptions for marijuana.

"The one message we're trying to get out there is that if you don't think 
you know what you're doing with it or you don't think it's safe, you should 
not prescribe it," said Pope. "It's as simple as that."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Alex