Comments on: Dr. Mid-Nite and the Law http://www.politedissent.com/archives/64 a blog of medicine, comics, television, science and other fun stuff Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:25:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: david http://www.politedissent.com/archives/64/comment-page-1#comment-226404 david Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:41:18 +0000 http://politedissent.com/archives/64#comment-226404 My mom told me that LSD was the only drug she knew of that had no legitimate medical use*. She included all recreational drugs in that list. Heroin is Morphine with fewer side effects: it acts quickly and clears quickly: you can ramp up the dosage without making the patient sick, which is particularly important in severe intractable pain, so cancer patients get most of it. When manufactured in USA and sold to the UK, it is called diamorphine. *e.g: Thalidomide is used for Hansen's disease. My mom told me that LSD was the only drug she knew of that had no legitimate medical use*. She included all recreational drugs in that list. Heroin is Morphine with fewer side effects: it acts quickly and clears quickly: you can ramp up the dosage without making the patient sick, which is particularly important in severe intractable pain, so cancer patients get most of it.

When manufactured in USA and sold to the UK, it is called diamorphine.

*e.g: Thalidomide is used for Hansen’s disease.

]]> By: Scott` http://www.politedissent.com/archives/64/comment-page-1#comment-56 Scott` Mon, 31 May 2004 03:53:31 +0000 http://politedissent.com/archives/64#comment-56 Disasters/Emergency situations are exceptions to the general rule. In fact, a doctor is supposed to assist in such situations -- the classic "is there a doctor on board?" actually happens, and has happened to me on a flight to Ohio once. Ended up not being a big problem and netting me some extra frequent flier miles. I think the "Practicing medicine without a license" charge is generally applied to people who aren't physicians, or tacked onto significantly egregious situations. A blind eye is usually turned if it's a vacation, brief visit, etc. Disasters/Emergency situations are exceptions to the general rule. In fact, a doctor is supposed to assist in such situations — the classic “is there a doctor on board?” actually happens, and has happened to me on a flight to Ohio once. Ended up not being a big problem and netting me some extra frequent flier miles.
I think the “Practicing medicine without a license” charge is generally applied to people who aren’t physicians, or tacked onto significantly egregious situations. A blind eye is usually turned if it’s a vacation, brief visit, etc.

]]> By: matthew rossi http://www.politedissent.com/archives/64/comment-page-1#comment-55 matthew rossi Sun, 30 May 2004 21:52:09 +0000 http://politedissent.com/archives/64#comment-55 Question: supposing a doctor is on vacation in another state and there's a medical emergency (whatever kind works for the hypothetical... an earthquake, a disaster, multi-car pile-up on the freeway, whatever) - is it safe to assume that he or she would get into legal trouble if she jumped in and started helping out without a license to practice in that state, or would it be considered permissible because of the emergency situation? Question: supposing a doctor is on vacation in another state and there’s a medical emergency (whatever kind works for the hypothetical… an earthquake, a disaster, multi-car pile-up on the freeway, whatever) – is it safe to assume that he or she would get into legal trouble if she jumped in and started helping out without a license to practice in that state, or would it be considered permissible because of the emergency situation?

]]> By: Scott http://www.politedissent.com/archives/64/comment-page-1#comment-53 Scott Fri, 28 May 2004 21:54:22 +0000 http://politedissent.com/archives/64#comment-53 Heroin (diamorphine) is used in the UK, and a few other countries, for pain relief for heart attacks. In the U.S. and elsewhere, morphine is usually used. Heroin is big no-no in the U.S., so I doubt it'll ever be used medically. I should point out that the "no apparent medical use" for Class I substances is a little misleading, as marijuana is a Class I, but there are some "investigational" medical uses. Heroin (diamorphine) is used in the UK, and a few other countries, for pain relief for heart attacks. In the U.S. and elsewhere, morphine is usually used. Heroin is big no-no in the U.S., so I doubt it’ll ever be used medically. I should point out that the “no apparent medical use” for Class I substances is a little misleading, as marijuana is a Class I, but there are some “investigational” medical uses.

]]> By: Scott http://www.politedissent.com/archives/64/comment-page-1#comment-52 Scott Fri, 28 May 2004 21:34:47 +0000 http://politedissent.com/archives/64#comment-52 Not in the US. Morphine is used, but not heroin. Interesting...have to look into that... Not in the US. Morphine is used, but not heroin. Interesting…have to look into that…

]]> By: Gareth Wilson http://www.politedissent.com/archives/64/comment-page-1#comment-51 Gareth Wilson Fri, 28 May 2004 20:34:43 +0000 http://politedissent.com/archives/64#comment-51 "Class I - high abuse potential; no accepted medical use (i.e. heroin)" Isn't herion used as a painkiller in heart attack victims? Or is that just in the UK? “Class I – high abuse potential; no accepted medical use (i.e. heroin)”
Isn’t herion used as a painkiller in heart attack victims? Or is that just in the UK?

]]>