Bioethical considerations in the physician-patient relationship for the use of medicinal cannabis in Peru

Abstract

In November 2017, medical use of cannabis was decriminalized in Peru. The challenges are diverse and this article focuses on those challenges related to the doctor-patient relationship. Given the status quo of medicinal cannabis, the medical treatment protocol to be developed by the Ministry of Health must formulate clear conditions to guide the physicians' decision to prescribe cannabis without affecting their ethical obligations to promote good and cause no harm to their patients. This article develops three important considerations for prescribing medicinal cannabis. First, it recommends the registration and education of physicians who decide to prescribe medicinal cannabis. Secondly, it proposes general criteria specifying the cases in which the use of medicinal cannabis is appropriate and, finally, it establishes the need for a bona-fide doctor-patient relationship for the prescription of medicinal cannabis.