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Taylor, MI - The Illinois Medical Cannabis Program is under threat and so is the right of doctors to recommend to patients what they know is effective, legalized medicine.
That is why My Compassion, one of only four Federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofits associated with medical marijuana, is endorsing a nationwide campaign to assist Dr. Joseph Starkman in a legal challenge against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
My Compassion, which is made up of patients whose medical conditions have been successfully treated with medical cannabis, is directing this appeal to all those who believe in the healing powers of cannabis and the rights of medical practitioners to recommend what they know is effective, legalized medicine, for their patients.
Funds raised will be used to defray legal costs in Dr. Starkman's defense over certain alleged violations of the Medical Practice Act. The Department claims he violated the Act because he relied on testing and diagnoses made by specialists instead of carrying out a complete re-examination of a patient referred to him. This is contrary to Illinois medical marijuana law, the pilot program regulations, and to normal medical practices where family physicians and general practitioners utilize diagnoses and testing done by specialists when co-managing patients.
Normally, accepting a copy of the medical records of the specialist or co-treater and a copy of any diagnostic testing is enough to substantiate a patient's condition.
If the Department succeeds in obtaining a guilty finding it would :
Discourage family physicians and general practitioners from signing a patients recommendation for medical cannabis
Significantly decrease patient access to medical cannabis
Increase patient medical costs by requiring repeat, unnecessary testing Increase patient harm by requiring repeat, unnecessary testing, such as blood draws or exposure to x-rays or other screening mechanisms.
Open the door for IDFPR to pursue disciplinary action against physicians who have already certified patients
Result in a decrease in medical marijuana patient registration, impacting the medical marijuana patient population who could access cannabis from dispensaries which would in turn impact purchases from cultivation centers.
Dr Starkman's lawyer, Dr Mike Goldberg, says the IDFPR is using his case as a way of setting legal precedent, which could discourage other doctors from prescribing medical cannabis to their patients, and which will be major set back for the program and patients who are suffering needlessly.
He says the IDFPR is also using a common legal delay tactic, in the hope a drawn out legal battle will force Dr Starkman to drop his challenge because of increasing legal costs. The Board waited a year before taking its case against Dr.Starkman to the hearing stage and prevented him from practicing cannabis related medicine. This has severely hindered his ability to earn both a living and pay for the extensive legal costs from the drawn out tactics. Dr Starkman's insurance does not cover the legal costs associated with his case.
The IDFPR has also charged Dr Starkman with two other alleged offences. Dr Starkman has provided evidence that clearly shows one of the charges is not valid, and the other arose from administrative errors, with no deliberate wrong doing on his behalf.
My Compassion believes the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation should not be allowed to undermine the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program and that is why it is campaigning on behalf of Dr Starkman.
My Compassion's mission is to increase awareness and understanding through information, education and advocacy of all the medical benefits and healing properties of cannabis.
For further information about My Compassion please visit: My Compassion
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That is why My Compassion, one of only four Federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofits associated with medical marijuana, is endorsing a nationwide campaign to assist Dr. Joseph Starkman in a legal challenge against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
My Compassion, which is made up of patients whose medical conditions have been successfully treated with medical cannabis, is directing this appeal to all those who believe in the healing powers of cannabis and the rights of medical practitioners to recommend what they know is effective, legalized medicine, for their patients.
Funds raised will be used to defray legal costs in Dr. Starkman's defense over certain alleged violations of the Medical Practice Act. The Department claims he violated the Act because he relied on testing and diagnoses made by specialists instead of carrying out a complete re-examination of a patient referred to him. This is contrary to Illinois medical marijuana law, the pilot program regulations, and to normal medical practices where family physicians and general practitioners utilize diagnoses and testing done by specialists when co-managing patients.
Normally, accepting a copy of the medical records of the specialist or co-treater and a copy of any diagnostic testing is enough to substantiate a patient's condition.
If the Department succeeds in obtaining a guilty finding it would :
Discourage family physicians and general practitioners from signing a patients recommendation for medical cannabis
Significantly decrease patient access to medical cannabis
Increase patient medical costs by requiring repeat, unnecessary testing Increase patient harm by requiring repeat, unnecessary testing, such as blood draws or exposure to x-rays or other screening mechanisms.
Open the door for IDFPR to pursue disciplinary action against physicians who have already certified patients
Result in a decrease in medical marijuana patient registration, impacting the medical marijuana patient population who could access cannabis from dispensaries which would in turn impact purchases from cultivation centers.
Dr Starkman's lawyer, Dr Mike Goldberg, says the IDFPR is using his case as a way of setting legal precedent, which could discourage other doctors from prescribing medical cannabis to their patients, and which will be major set back for the program and patients who are suffering needlessly.
He says the IDFPR is also using a common legal delay tactic, in the hope a drawn out legal battle will force Dr Starkman to drop his challenge because of increasing legal costs. The Board waited a year before taking its case against Dr.Starkman to the hearing stage and prevented him from practicing cannabis related medicine. This has severely hindered his ability to earn both a living and pay for the extensive legal costs from the drawn out tactics. Dr Starkman's insurance does not cover the legal costs associated with his case.
The IDFPR has also charged Dr Starkman with two other alleged offences. Dr Starkman has provided evidence that clearly shows one of the charges is not valid, and the other arose from administrative errors, with no deliberate wrong doing on his behalf.
My Compassion believes the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation should not be allowed to undermine the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program and that is why it is campaigning on behalf of Dr Starkman.
My Compassion's mission is to increase awareness and understanding through information, education and advocacy of all the medical benefits and healing properties of cannabis.
For further information about My Compassion please visit: My Compassion
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