They Let Their 15-Year-Old Son Smoke Pot to Stop His Seizures. Georgia Took Him Away. (archive)
The pharmaceuticals weren't working. The 15-year-old boy was having several seizures per day, and his parents were concerned his life was in danger. So Suzeanna and Matthew Brill, of Macon, Ga., decided in February to let their son try smoking marijuana — and his seizures stopped for 71 days, they say.
The Brills' decision led to the boy, David, being taken away from his parents, who face possible fines and jail time after being charged with reckless conduct for giving him the drug. David has now been in a group home for 30 days, and his seizures have returned. He is separated from the service dog that sniffed out his seizures, and he is able to communicate with his parents only during short visitations and phone calls.
They maintain they made the right decision for their son's health, despite their current predicament. "Even with the ramifications with the law, I don't care," said Mr. Brill, his stepfather. "For 71 days he was able to ride a bike, go play, lift weights. We were able to achieve that with David medicated not from Big Pharma, but David medicated with marijuana."
The Brill parents were jailed on April 20, and posted bond on April 25.
Since The New York Times published the article, Twiggs County Sheriff Darren Mitchum has received media attention and threatening phone calls, one of which he played back for reporters at a press conference.
(Score: 5, Informative) by stretch611 on Friday June 01 2018, @10:03PM
Right to try is a misnomer...
There already existed ways for terminally ill patients to get experimental drugs. A doctor would need to go to the FDA for permission (which was granted in 99% of the cases.) There was even a way to get approval over the phone in time critical emergencies where the patient only had hours to live.
"Right to Try" is a way to get the FDA out of the picture and allow Big-Pharma to decide everything.
https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/right-to-try-designed-to-weaken-fda-law-s-author-says [fiercebiotech.com]
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-31/right-to-try-author-says-law-s-intent-is-to-diminish-fda-s-power?cmpId=yhoo.headline&yptr=yahoo [bloomberg.com]
So another way that trump has favored big industries ability to get more profit while ignoring consumer safeguards.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P