University of Washington Medical Center recently denied a life-saving liver transplant to 56 year old Hepatitis C patient, Timothy Garon. Their denial was based on the fact that Timothy was a Washington state approved Medicinal Marijuana user. He was using marijuana under his doctors strict supervision, and followed state law completely. The marijuana was prescribed to treat his abdominal pain, nausea, and lack of appetite all symptoms of his Hep. C.
Timothy Garon had not weeks to live, but days.
The university of washington said it would reconsider the life-saving surgery if Timothy would enroll into a sixty day drug treatment program for his marijuana "abuse." After urging the courts that his client wouldn't survive 60 days in treatment the university restated that they were denying his liver transplant.
This drug has absolutely no effect on the liver, mind you, but the university stood its ground. Timothy was an otherwise healthy man, and with the transplant would have had many years of life left in him. Instead, he has passed away. A very sick, very lonely man.
This is a travesty. We are the richest nation, with what is supposed to be the best doctors in the world. We are a people seized in a grip of fear from propaganda that started back in 1910 when a bunch of immigrants came over and started abusing what was then known only as a medicine and a plant that made paper, clothes, and rope cheaper and easier to manufacture.
There is no hope for Timothy, and I am sad for his loss and the people he left behind, who are so obviously wondering what failed him. He was given a prescription, to ease his suffering, and because of that, he is dead.
Do you think Marijuana has any place in the medical field? 
Comments (43)
That is just straight up retarded.
@Kyjonze - which part?
@antisoccermom - Well, I really just meant that he can't get treatment because he puffs on reefer, prescribed by a doctor mind you. This guy wasn't buying sacks off the streets like, um, people I know. :-p.
@Kyjonze - Yep, a doctors prescription made it impossible for him to survive. Isnt it sad...... Keep away from those people you know, marijuana can kill you.
@antisoccermom - ah nevermind. Can you delete that comment on the Perez post?
@qccan - I knew this was going to turn into stonerville. Any actual thoughts on the controversial topic? or are you just too high?
So do you know for a fact he was not abusing his prescription? If he was, then I would say there might be grounds to deny treatment. If he were abusing another prescription it could be grounds for treatment denial as well. When you have an organ transplant surgery, survival rates go down for those that are dependent on a substance, whether it be prescribed or not, especially if your abusing it.
And let's say he was not abusing it. Let's say he was doing exactly what his doctor wanted him to. The risk of transplant is still high! There is a good chance his body would have rejected the liver and died anyway. That's why Hep C sucks so much.
How did he get it anyway? If he was engaging in risky behavior that could contribute to the organ denial too.
As shitty as it may seem, with the transplant list the way it is in this country, is it better to save a 56 year old man or someone younger, say 20, who needs a new liver?
Hard to say.
Just playing devil's advocate, btw.
Lets just legalize it for fucks sake. Crime would be less because everyone would be too mellow to do anything about it. Look at Amsterdam!
All I ask is someone, ANYONE to give me ONE GOOD REASON why it should be illegal.
Personally, I'd like to see it legalized for the simple reason that stoners would have NOTHING to talk about anymore.
I have no thrill to use, and probably wouldn't even if it was legal. (Hell, I barely drink) But even I see no reason for it to be illegal.
But what do you expect from the government? The biggest fucking drug pushers in the world.
Get people hooked on their good shit, then you get to watch Grandma and Grandpa slowly die in pain because they can't afford their "habit" anymore.
Cheaper OFFBRAND drugs from Canada? Fuck that. Goddamn pushers gotta protect their territory.
@Ultra_Bright - you do as you do, bestest.
He was not abusing his marijuana script, from what I understand. But I dont know if you CANT not abuse it. just a thought.
@DrugInducedDuck - I think marijuana should be legalized so that potheads stop having stuff to talk about.
Not really. The free radicals introduce more damage into your body.
@antisoccermom - Ha ha... beat ya to it!
@LifeNeedsProtection - if you are smoking it, you mean?
@antisoccermom - Then they would talk about stuff like if you've ever looked at your eyes, no I mean really looked at them, like really, really looking at them, like looking into your soul...
Any long term use is not good for you. You must keep in mind that
marijuana contains impurities such as fungi and/or other
potentially toxic plant material. It is these unknown substances that
may lead to significant
liver injury.
Aspergillosis
That is the fatal disease that smoking tobacco or Marijuana, combined with the drugs needed to prevent organ rejection can cause. And that is why he was rejected.
It is nice to look into things a bit more. he would have also have been rejected for smoking cigarettes. It had nothing to do with marijuana being illegal. It is a shame that his regular doctor was not better informed
@LifeNeedsProtection -
You are right, fungi specifically was the concern this case.
fuck. this post totally pissed me off. (not you, but you know what i mean...)
From what I understand, and I could be wrong, the use of marijuana by black folks (mainly musicians) was what got the white establishment all bent out of shape. Whatever the reason, haven't we learned yet that prohibition doesn't work?
Oh wait, they are banning cigarette use in public based on flawed science that second-hand smoke is far deadlier than first hand smoke. http://www.smokingaloud.com/corrupt/html
When will we ever learn that morality cannot be legislated?
Of course it does. All medicines are made from plants and some minerals, its perfect for lots of things or nothing inparticular just to feel good.
The medical establishment relies heavily on money from drug companies, therefore the bigotry against weed. Drug companies cant charge you an arm and a leg for the best thing sinse (and before) aspirin, because you can grow it in your back yard. The war is about money, not the substance. If people used it more, there might be less stress related violence and stress related cardio problems. It's also being used with anorexia patients to a very positive result. There's a lot of good in it and I don't see much bad at all.
I think that under supervision (which is what this Timothy guy had) that marijuana is a great thing for medicinal purposes. That's freaking ridiculous that they denied his surgery! I seriously can't comprehend what justification they can say about it! grr