By Gina Mecagni, M.D. | The Arizona Republic
(Editor’s note: Posting opinion pieces does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rose Law Group.)
As medical students at Georgetown University, we were indoctrinated with the traditions and values of our attending physicians. It was there that I was taught how
to care for patients. It was there that I first heard and would hear repeatedly throughout my training: Pain is what the patient says it is.
That value is critical to the practice of medicine. It establishes a foundation of trust between physician and patient. It begins the conversation with, “I believe you,” so that you can move forward to “How can I help you?”
That value is what made reading The Arizona Republic editorial board’s comments about patients who use Arizona’s medical-marijuana law for chronic pain treatment so upsetting (“Cheech and Chong would love Arizona’s medical-pot law,” Nov. 12).
I have been an emergency medicine physician for 12 years. One thing almost every one of my patients has in common is that they are in pain. Pain is the warning signal our bodies use to let us know that something is wrong.
If you’d like to discuss medical marijuana, contact Ryan Hurley, director of the Rose Law Group Medical Marijuana Dept. rhurley@roselawgroup.com
