A desperate father's search for a solution to help with his son's behavioral problems took quite a turn after his son was prescribed marijuana-laced cookies.
In 2012, Dr. William Eidelman, a California-based natural medicine physician, diagnosed the then-four-year-old with bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder (ADD), and suggested that he should be given some marijuana cookies to control his symptoms, including hyperactivity and temper tantrums.
However, once the news of the doctor's unusual treatment reached the Medical Board of California, Eidelman's license was immediately revoked.
But here's where things get even more perplexing: the doctor's license was not suspended because he gave the boy edibles (marijuana is legal in California), he lost it for being "negligent in his care and treatment."
Eidelman came under fire because he misdiagnosed the patient, failed to consult a psychiatrist and the boy's school before reaching a conclusion.
The school's medical team and the boy's teachers were not informed of the presence of cannabis in the cookies, and it wasn't until a school nurse was asked to administer some to the boy at lunchtime that the discovery was made.
According to a BBC report, it is believed that Eidelman's diagnosis is based on the boy's family history of both conditions.
"As a child, the boy's father had ADHD and bipolar disorder himself and had a negative experience with prescribed medications at the time, saying he felt like a 'human guinea pig,'" reported BBC. "He started using marijuana later in life, saying it helped 'calm him' and changed his behavior towards his wife, towards whom he had previously 'exhibited anger.'"
The boy's older brother also suffers from bipolar disorder and ADHD and marijuana had "positive effects" on him.
Despite the high possibility of the boy inheriting these conditions, the board does not think the youngster's symptoms and Eidelman's notes match the diagnosis.
According to the BBC, Eidelman has launched an appeal to get his license back because as far as he's concerned the claims against him are false.
