Medical Marijuana & Transplant Policy

This is a very interesting story about a man being removed from the liver transplant list in the United States.  The patient had been prescribed medical marijuana while battling liver cancer.  The marijuana was prescribed by his physician.  As his health declined, he was put on the liver transplant list.  He was soon delisted because he tested positive for marijuana.  It would seem that if the marijuana was part of his treatment, he should still be eligible for the transplant.  Find the full article by clicking on the link at the end of the text.

Press release from Americans for Safe Access


Los Angeles, CA -- Sixty-three year-old medical marijuana patient Norman B. Smith was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in 2009 and sought treatment from the internationally lauded Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Smith's oncologist at Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Steven Miles, approved of his medical marijuana use as a means to deal with the effects of chemotherapy and pain from an unrelated back surgery. In September 2010, Smith became eligible for a liver transplant, but after testing positive for marijuana in February he was removed from the transplant list. Smith's cancer was in remission until just recently, but now he is scheduled to undergo radiation treatments in the next few days.

Medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued a letter today urging the Cedars-Sinai Transplant Department to promptly re-list Smith for a liver transplant. The letter also urges Cedars-Sinai to change its transplant eligibility policy. "Denying necessary transplants to medical marijuana patients is the worst kind of discrimination," said ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford, who also authored the letter to Cedars-Sinai. "Cedars-Sinai would not be breaking any laws, federal or otherwise, by granting Norman Smith a liver transplant, and it's certainly the ethical thing to do."


Sixty-three year-old medical marijuana patient

Young Hockey Player Donates Organs

By: John Cotter, The Canadian Press

Posted: 11/14/2011 11:57 AM | Last Modified: 11/15/2011 2:26 AM

Kyle Fundytus, 16, had his organs donated after a "freak" hockey accident

EDMONTON - The family of a young Edmonton hockey player who died after being hit in the neck with a puck has donated the youth's organs for transplant.

Kyle Fundytus, 16, was remembered Monday by family, team and classmates as a friendly go-getter on and off the ice who never flinched from using his body to block shots for his Midget AA team.

Hockey Edmonton officials say he was blocking a shot during a game Saturday night when he was struck, dying later in hospital of his injuries in what was being called a freak accident.

Read the entire article here:   http://bit.ly/sM5XVz

Echo Stress Test

Today, my dad went to Toronto General Hospital for an Echo Stress test.  He's told me that heart transplant patients who are very stable have the Echo Stress test done instead of biopsies.  My dad is considered stable because he's had very little rejection for many years [He's had the donor heart for fourteen years].  A Stress Echo is made up of three parts: A resting Echo study, Stress test, and a repeat Echo while the heart is still beating fast. It is definitely far less invasive & more pleasant than a routine biopsy.

My parents at my brother's one year heart transplant anniversary celebration

Transplanniversary Party

Yesterday, my brother & his family threw a party to celebrate the one year anniversary of his heart transplant [otherwise known as his one year birthday].  They celebrated along side of friends & family who supported them through the past two challenging years by making hospital visits, providing emotional support, offering childcare and or to lend an ear.   It was a very celebratory & positive evening.

Mark, Michael & Graham

Folks were sent home with "loot bags" containing heart shaped cookies, a green ribbon to honour organ donation, a Trillium Gift of Life pamphlet & information on beadonor.ca .  It was a very nice touch!

My childhood crush, Brent, & I 

Our dad's brother, Dennis with his wife, Helen, and our cousin, Kathleen

One year "birthday" cake