Was just reading today about a Colorado physician was was arrested for writing fraudulent medical marijuana recommendations to 2 undercover police officers. (http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_15800217)   Per this article, the two officers said they were involved in a motor vehicle accident.     The doctor apparently gave them a recommendation citing “Pain” as the qualifying diagnosis.   The problem was that apparently the officers never mentioned that they were in pain.   The doctor just used that to justify writing the recommendation.  Another example of greed getting in the way of good medicine.

There was another doctor in Southern California who lost his medical license last year for what the state medical board called “gross negligence”. He too was suggesting to patients what their complaints “should be” and had them initial a bunch of documents stating that they get relief from medical marijuana.   Unfortunately the undercover officers in that case never mentioned that they used marijuana.   He also did not perform a physical exam which is the standard of care when prescribing or recommending any medication.

I would imagine that as the economy gets worse and doctors who used to make their living doing cosmetic and elective procedures find their incomes dwindling that more and more of these physicians will get themselves caught in the “medical marijuana web”.   Part of the problem is that most of these clinics are NOT OWNED BY THE DOCTORS.  THEY ARE OWNED BY INVESTORS WHO HIRE DOCTORS. The problem with this is that the investors do not care about the doctors license… they simple care about the bottom line.   So they typically see a much higher percentage of recreational users who are malingering to get a medical marijuana recommendation.

Fortunately for me, I own my practice and answer to no one.  I alone decide what patients I see and let through the front door.   I care very much about my medical license and am extremely passionate about this issue.

If you are a physician reading this I would highly encourage you to draw a line in the sand that you do not cross.   Doing the right thing for so many of you seems so difficult but in the end you will be able to fall asleep with peace and quiet.

Be blessed,

Dr. Breen