The Arizona Republic is reporting medical pot woes for prescribing doctors. Are you surprised?

2 Arizona doctors disciplined for medical pot
Drug recommended to patients without the proper vetting

State medical boards have disciplined two doctors who improperly recommended medical marijuana to hundreds of patients.

State officials filed complaints in August against eight physicians who had recommended nearly half of the 10,000 Arizonans certified to use medical marijuana, saying they failed to check patients’ prescription-drug histories as required. The disciplinary actions against the two doctors were a result of the complaints by the state Department of Health Services.

State rules regulating the voter-approved medical-marijuana law require people to obtain a written recommendation from a licensed physician.

The doctor must perform a physical exam, review a year’s worth of medical records, talk about the risks and benefits of the drug, and review a state database that tracks prescription-drug use.

In January, the Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board suspended Dr. Christine Strong, a licensed naturopathic physician, for failing to physically examine eight patients before certifying they qualified for the marijuana, according to a consent agreement between the regulatory board and Strong obtained by The Arizona Republic.

Strong also failed to maintain adequate medical records for the eight patients because the files did not contain sufficient information to support a diagnosis that would qualify the patients for medical marijuana. Strong certified four patients based on severe and chronic pain, but medical records did not support that diagnosis, and the records didn’t indicate the patients were taking any pain medication, which should have caused the doctor “to question the validity of the patients’ complaints,” the Jan. 19 agreement said.

The board determined Strong acted unprofessionally and suspended her license for 30 days. She must serve the suspension by Sept. 4, pay a $1,000 civil penalty and complete 24 hours of continuing medical education focused on pain management and physical examination and diagnosis.

Strong did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Craig Runbeck, executive director of the naturopathic board, said the panel is still considering four other discipline cases tied to medical marijuana.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Medical Board issued a letter of reprimand and consent to Dr. James W. Eisenberg for issuing 483 medical-marijuana certifications before checking prescription-drug histories, records state.

Eisenberg conceded he falsely attested on certification forms that he had reviewed patient profiles on the controlled-substances database.

Eisenberg did not respond to a call for comment.

Lisa Wynn, executive director of the Arizona Medical Board, said the doctor’s reprimand does not affect his ability to practice medicine. She said the board is still reviewing the actions of two doctors linked to the certification of medical marijuana.

Keith Humphreys is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University who served as the senior drug-policy adviser in President Barack Obama’s administration.

He said enforcement of marijuana-related disciplinary actions against doctors is spotty at best because criteria for recommending medical marijuana are so “loosey-goosey.”

In California, for example, virtually anyone can qualify for medical marijuana, he said, so it can be tough proving disciplinary cases against doctors.

“Around the country, very, very few doctors have gotten in trouble,” Humphreys said. “And it’s pretty hard to get into trouble as a doctor, because the standards for recommending it are just so low.”

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/2012/02/07/20120207arizona-doctors-disciplined-medical-pot.html#ixzz1lv3u37xt

Look who’s being reasonable about Arizona Immigration:

Arizona Accord aims to guide immigration dialogue

by Alia Beard Rau – Jan. 24, 2012 11:11 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com

Arizona is following in Utah’s footsteps as business and civic leaders push for public support of five principles they hope will guide Arizona’s immigration discussion in a new direction.

But Republican lawmakers say they’re not interested in that direction.

Called the Arizona Accord, the five principles mimic the Utah Compact created by business leaders in 2010.

The principles support developing federal solutions, focusing local law-enforcement resources on criminal activities as opposed to civil violations of federal law, keeping families together and improving the health and well-being of all Arizona children, acknowledging the economic role immigrants play as workers and taxpayers, and treating immigrants with humanity and inclusion.

“This is a broad set of guiding principles designed to frame the discussion both at the state and the federal level,” said Scott Higginson, who helped organize the Arizona Accord effort.

“It is our belief and hope that with the Arizona Accord in place, the dialogue can change and we might be able to find holistic solutions.”

Like in Utah, the Arizona Accord is being pushed by local business and civic leaders.

The goal is not to get the Legislature to pass it as a bill but to have the public sign the accord to show the Legislature what voters want.

In Utah, the compact’s influence resulted in the Legislature last year passing a state guest-worker program.

James Garcia, co-founder of the Real Arizona Coalition formed after Arizona passed Senate Bill 1070, said the principles reflect his organization’s desire for more comprehensive immigration reform.

“Immigrants are contributors to our society and not a detriment to society,” Garcia said.

Kevin Rogers, president of the Arizona Farm Bureau, said his group has worked on these issues for 15 years.

He said that the federal government must secure the border but that Arizona farmers also need immigration programs that allow for temporary workers, seasonal workers and long-term workers “for our economy to continue its recovery.”

On Tuesday, leaders ceremonially signed the accord and encouraged Arizonans to go to www.azaccord.com and sign it, as well.

Other supporters of the accord so far include the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the Arizona Interfaith Network, Tolleson, the Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board, the Phoenix Human Relations Commission,Chicanos Por La Causa, East Valley Patriots, Sundt Construction and McCarthy Construction.

Higginson said the accord is intended to be political but nonpartisan.

He said his group has no plans to ask the Legislature to formally support the accord, but he hopes it will pay attention to public support for the accord and use it as a guide when considering immigration legislation.

Sen. Jerry Lewis, R-Mesa, who beat out SB 1070 author Russell Pearce in a November recall election, signed the accord.

But other lawmakers said they have no intention of paying the accord any notice.

The principles fly in the face of the enforcement-focused illegal-immigration legislation that Arizona lawmakers have passed in recent years, including SB 1070.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, said he isn’t familiar with the Arizona Accord but said the Utah Compact is deliberately vague and bad policy.

He said principles that support “being nice to everybody” just invite efforts to open the borders instead of secure them.

He said that he likely wouldn’t give the accord much thought and that he didn’t think the rest of the Republican caucus would, either.

“I think the majority of the caucus thinks, ‘What the heck? Get this out of here,’” he said.

Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, the author of many of the recent immigration enforcement bills, said that’s exactly how he feels.

“I don’t listen to business owners,” he said.

“I listen to what the people in the state have said. People want us to crack down on illegal immigration.”

Arizona Rep. Catherine Miranda, D-Phoenix, earlier this month proposed House Concurrent Resolution 2015 to support the five principles. House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Prescott Valley, has not assigned the bill to a committee for hearing

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/01/23/20120123arizona-accord-aims-guide-immigration-dialoague.html#ixzz1kVOscJ25

Rising Number of Grandparents Raising Children: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Rising Number of Grandparents Raising Children: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Rising Number of Grandparents Raising Children

Updated: Monday, 16 Jan 2012, 9:28 AM MST
Published : Monday, 16 Jan 2012, 9:21 AM MST

Alexis Vance

By ALEXIS VANCE
FOX 10 News

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – “I think she’s a gift to us which we didn’t realize at the time.”

Kay Vergnetti and her husband Angelo raised their four children — it was time to travel, see Europe and go on cruises, but that all came to a screeching halt.

“She remembers everything that happened that night at the altercation..every single thing,” said Kay.

Child Protective Services removed their granddaughter Courtney from her mother and father after a violent fight. She was only 2½ years old. Kay and Angelo stepped in to raise her and at first, it was a challenge.

“Tiresome, tiresome, I mean you wish you could take a nap at 4:00 and you couldn’t and it’s a 24 hour thing..you’re always on guard,” said Kay.

Then came all of the legal issues, getting a passport, health insurance and trying to enroll Courtney into a school.

“What we’re seeing more and more often is that school districts won’t take power of attorney, you need to be a guardian, so that’s when people turn over to guardianship, giving them the power of the parent,” said Adam Roberts of the Tarascio and Del Vecchio law firm.

Working with the courts and parents who don’t want to give up their rights can take a long time, but finally in 2007, the adoption was official and being a parent the second time around has its benefits.

“You’ve been through it all, you know what works, what doesn’t work and she’s got the benefit of all that..maybe that’s the way we should go..maybe all grandparents should raise children,” said Kay.

Here in Arizona, the latest census shows 70,000 children are being raised by their grandparents and there’s really no one reason for it.

“Economic factors, behavioral health of the parent, maybe child abuse, maybe substance abuse, there could be a lot of factors,” said Deidra Calcoate of the Department of Economic Security.

Courtney has blossomed into a beautiful young girl, a student at Horizon High School — and her grandparents wouldn’t change a thing.

“We stay in the loop..we know what’s going on, we don’t look from outside in, we get along with all of her friends, parents..we have a multitude from all walks of life and all ages that we consider our friends,” said Kay.

Visitation and the Holidays

The holidays can be chaotic under the best of circumstances, however, when you are juggling the additional hurdle of children visiting with non-custodial parents, the holidays can become unbearable. For the sake of your sanity and the benefit of your children, remember these tips to ensure smooth transitions and maximum enjoyment.
1. Stay flexible. Even when you have a written plan, things change and unanticipated situations arise. The pre-planned pick up and drop off times may not work or it may be better to trade on a particular year depending on vacations or family in town. Staying flexible and cooperative can maximize your time with your child and ensure future goodwill.

2. Communicate. Parenting children is challenging when parents live together. It is especially challenging when they don’t get along, much less live together. Frequent, honest communication prevents misunderstandings and can make the holidays easier on everyone. Be prepared to make some concessions and ask for concessions in return.

Finally, when originally coming up with a plan or in times of serious or ongoing disagreement, it’s a good idea to consult an attorney. Other times to see an attorney include: If there is an in-balance of power within the relationship, if one person is withholding parenting time or alienating the other parent. Family law attorneys have had the advantage of seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Many times we can anticipate problems or make suggestions to solve problems and deescalate conflicts.