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Issue of Confidentiality
Many patients seek out
cannabis consultants because they don't feel comfortable disclosing to their
primary care providers doctors that they have been self-medicating with
cannabis. Although I do require
that the patient's primary provider or other appropriate practitioner be aware
of, and follow, the serious illness for which cannabis is used, I do not require
that the patient disclose his or her medical cannabis use to these providers in
all cases. The wording I generally use in
explaining this is: "In a perfect world, you should be able to tell your
physician everything. But unless, and until the federal government, employers
and insurance companies no longer discriminate against medical cannabis users,
there is valid reason not to have cannabis mentioned in your medical records." I ask the patient to
assess whether he or she feels safe in telling their doctor "off the record"
that they're using cannabis medicinally. If the answer is yes, I encourage them
to do so. Your own doctor knows you best, and in a perfect world, one should be
able to tell his or her doctor everything. I don't accept insurance
for medical cannabis consultations, nor do I recommend that the patient bill the
insurance company, unless the patient is willing to have his/her insurance
company see these records. PRIOR ARTICLE: Documentation Pros and Cons CONTINUE: Special circumstances |
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