Cannabis-based epilepsy treatment halted

The Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw has banned a doctor who ran experimental cannabis-based treatment of epilepsy in children from pursuing his work.

Doctor Marek Bachański, from the Neurology and Epileptology Institute, was compelled to suspend his tests on anti-seizure treatment of a group of 15 drug-resistant children, after the institute’s top management criticised the physician’s conduct in running his experimentation.

During a press briefing, Institute spokesperson Professor Katarzyna Kotulska explained that the physician had been conducting his tests without the permission from the bioethical commission, which is necessary in the case of running medical experiments. Bachański is also reportedly yet to produce the results of his work to the body.

Months earlier, Bachański had been ordered to halt his unconventional treatment until all necessary formalities and paperwork were completed. “Doctor Bachański has still not presented the results of his research, we don’t know how many patients are under his care, what medication he used and the quantity of the medication applied,” she told the Wawalove website.

As the spokesperson underlines, using medical marijuana in Poland without the consent of the bioethical commission is illegal. Meanwhile, as Kotulska underlined, the institute has taken over the group of patients undergoing experimental treatment, following an approval of the bioethics team.

As broadcaster TVN24 reports, the cannabis-based treatment methods pursued by Bachański have been yielding substantial results, with some young patients experiencing a 90-percent drop in the number of epileptic seizures.