Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:1088. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36427/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 26 July 2017
Ceisteanna (1088)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act a licence is required to import cannabis, which is a Schedule 1 controlled substance, into Ireland. Under the Act the import licence application would need to be made by an Irish registered doctor, for the purposes of fulfilling a prescription for treatment of his or her patient, where the proposed course of treatment has been endorsed by the consultant responsible for the management and oversight of that patient’s response to the treatment over time.
It is the professional decision of the clinician, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe or not prescribe any particular treatment for a patient under their care.
I wish to draw the Deputy’s attention to the advice provided to me by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, earlier this year. Dr Holohan advises that the independence of the doctor-patient relationship is a fundamental principle upon which medical practice is based and that it would be neither appropriate nor ethical for the Minister for Health to seek to influence this relationship.
Dr Holohan further advises that the clinical considerations that inform the judgement of a consultant who is caring for a patient are matters which are subject to patient confidentiality, and as such neither I nor my officials have any right to enquire into them. Specifically, it would be wholly inappropriate for a Minister for Health to seek to instruct or influence any doctor to prescribe a particular treatment.
Question No. 1089 answered with Question No. 1065.