The father of a man who took his own life after being prescribed medicinal cannabis says his family was repeatedly sent more cannabis, despite notifying the telehealth platform of his death. The ABC can reveal the founder of the company has been banned from supplying cannabis and two doctors have been suspended.
Australia's peak medical bodies have repeatedly warned internet medical cannabis providers are poorly regulated and some are driven by an unchecked profit incentive.The pharmacist who founded a medicinal cannabis company has been banned from supplying cannabis and two doctors have been suspended.
The New South Wales coroner is preparing a report into the death of a 41-year-old man, who had a mental health condition, and was prescribed medicinal cannabis by two doctors at Dispensed before he took his own life. The man said his wife contacted Dispensed to tell them their son, who lived with them, had taken his own life in February.But the company, which operates a subscription service, sent two more packages of medicinal cannabis addressed to their dead son after that.
Telehealth providers like Dispensed, which describes itself as "Australia's easiest to use online platform", offer medicinal cannabis to patients with a wide range of conditions through online questionnaires which are reviewed by a doctor or nurse before a telehealth appointment. When the woman contacted the company again to advise her son had been hospitalised with psychosis, the company refunded his purchases and sent him a 'discharge letter'.
"There are now many medicinal cannabis products that contain THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the psychoactive component, and it is that component that causes the psychotic episodes."The company's online pre-admission quiz asks patients if they have a history of psychosis or schizophrenia and its terms and conditions also states patients must declare they do not have a personal or family history of schizophrenia, psychotic illness or substance addiction.
Two doctors working for Dispensed also had their ability to practice completely suspended by the Medical Board of Australia in August under immediate action powers, AHPRA confirmed.The ABC asked Dispensed a series of questions about the patients and its practices, but in a statement said it could not respond "due to privacy and confidentiality obligations", and that it did not accept the ABC's allegations related to its conduct.
Cannabis Pot THC Medicinal Cannabis Psychosis Mental Illness Prescription Weed Cannabis Prescription Cannabis Risk Drug Risk Cannabis Clinic Telehealth Consult Medical Regulations Marijuana Legal Marijuana Hospitalisation Psychotic Episode
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Medicinal cannabis trial for palliative care opens to regional Queensland patientsPalliative patients in regional areas are needed for a new trial into medicinal cannabis, which could help transform access to end-of-life care research.
Read more »
Call for reform to roadside drug-testing laws to protect medicinal cannabis users in SALegal experts are among those criticising immediate loss-of-licence laws that apply if a person tests positive to any level of medicinal cannabis, as a parliamentary inquiry unanimously calls for change.
Read more »
Moreton Bay City Council tries to gag ABC over unlawful dog declaration documentsOne of Queensland's largest councils has told the ABC to destroy a leaked spreadsheet and legal letters showing 281 cases of illegal dog regulation.
Read more »
ABC’s debate moderators did what they said was impossible: fact-checking TrumpThe debate was a win for Harris. And, with the help of ABC’s moderators, a better-than-usual night for the truth
Read more »
ABC’s move out west splits Sydney staff amid building woesAn incorrectly built studio, staff division and union warnings about safety are some of the issues plaguing the ABC over its ongoing Parramatta relocation.
Read more »
ABC’s move out west splits Sydney staff amid building woesAn incorrectly built studio, staff division and union warnings about safety are some of the issues plaguing the ABC over its ongoing Parramatta relocation.
Read more »