More Drug War Stupidity

The Associated Press reports that a man died after being refused a liver transplant. 

Why was he refused?  Because he followed his doctor's advice and used marijuana to ease the symptoms of his Hepatitis C.

His death came a week after a doctor told him a University of Washington Medical Center committee had again denied him a spot on the liver transplant list. The team had previously told him it would not consider placing him on the list until he completed a 60-day drug-treatment class…

The Virginia-based United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees the nation’s transplant system, leaves it to individual hospitals to develop criteria for transplant candidates.

At some, people who use “illicit substances”—including medical marijuana, even in the dozen states that allow it—are automatically rejected. At others, patients are given a chance to reapply if they stay clean for six months.

Comments

[KipEsquire]

You actually get two for the price of one here: drug war stupidity and no-organ-markets stupidity. Removing either one would solve the problem.

[greg]

Just to toss the question out. What is the standard for donors? In other words, if cannabis is so dangerous the recipient can't use it, does use of MJ (or any other drug/alcohol) disqualify me to donate? Will the test my tissue prior to harvesting?