19 APRIL 2024

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The AMA says doctors need regulatory support .

Carmel Sparke DOCTORS have flagged concerns

over the quality , safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis products , alleging most suppliers are bypassing TGA scrutiny .

The warning comes amid an explosion in prescribing , with doctors and nurse practitioners writing more than one million scripts as of January this year and the number of prescribers jumping to more than 5700 .

But while the industry is booming , out of about 500 medicinal cannabis products prescribed through the Special Access and Authorised Prescriber schemes , only two have

been registered as therapeutic goods by the TGA .

One is Sativex , an oral spray used to improve symptoms related to muscle stiffness in MS , and the other is Epidyolex , an oral liquid cannabidiol for treating seizures associated with Dravet syndrome .

The AMA says it is alarmed , as the watchdog does not routinely test unregistered imported or domestic medicinal cannabis products .

In fact , the most recent testing occurred in 2022-23 , to check if a number of cannabis oil products had been adulterated with delta-8 THC , according to a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Aged Care .

“ We have not conducted any testing of imported medicinal cannabis products in the last 12 months ,” the spokesperson added .

The ABC said one Australian laboratory responsible for testing PAGE 11

Heather Saxena A COURT has ordered a teenage girl with developmental disabilities to undergo leukaemia treatment involving dozens of general anaesthetics , despite the objections of her mother and paediatrician .

The 14-year-old , who has a developmental age of 16-18 months , was diagnosed with pre- B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March .

Unanimous medical opinion was that she would die within four weeks without treatment , the Supreme Court of NSW said .

But the girl ’ s mother rejected a two-year chemotherapy plan , telling the hospital her daughter should be allowed to die without suffering .

‘ Cannabis prescribing has absolutely exploded , and it is not clear who is using it , why they are using it , or whether it actually works .’

— AMA president Professor Steve Robson

AAP

‘ She won ’ t cope with the chemo or bone marrow transplant .’

“ Her wishes are not based on any religious or cultural belief ,” said Justice Michael Elkaim .

“ They are derived completely from her love for her daughter and her desire to avoid further suffering to an already medically challenged child .”

The hospital — which was not named to protect the girl ’ s privacy — asked the court to let doctors decide the treatment .

The court heard that treatment would be “ debilitating ” and “ intrusive ” and involve 6-8 months of intensive treatment at the hospital , then 16 months of less intensive treatment that could be performed closer to the girl ’ s home .

Doctors would administer chemotherapy orally and via a tube into the stomach , along with antibiotics , analgesia PAGE 13