Transplant Eligibility

[Guest guest]

There was an article in our local newspaper (Seattle area) over the

weekend about a man whose doctor prescribed him medical marijuana.

Don't know if anyone on the list here is using it or considering it,

but this guy was refused transplant because of it and will die within

a couple days. Reason stated is that use of any illegal substance,

even when prescribed legally, is indicative of potential for

addictive personality. I don't recall the exact details but they

mention that it can be lethal l to the new liver post transplant. It

causes mold or fungus or something to grow on it or something like

that. Different states have varying regulation on this but my

understanding is that there are as many as 11 states that will refuse

transplant for this reason. This man has Hep C. His doctor claims he

had no idea that prescribing medical marijuana would exclude him from

transplant. The man was told they would reconsider if he got 6 months

treatment or went 60 days without it - neither of which are an option

for him as he has only a handful of days of life left at best. The

man says he is not mad, just confused. My guess is he's too darn sick

to care at this point.