Rastafarianism: When Religious Beliefs Conflict With Medical Necessity—A Case Report and Review of the Literature Around an Ethically Complicated Case

TL;DR

A 72-year-old Rastafarian man with leukemia and delirium faced a medical dilemma involving the use of cannabis-related treatments due to his religious beliefs.

Contribution

This paper presents a case where Rastafarian beliefs conflicted with medical recommendations and highlights the ethical challenges in such scenarios.

Findings

Low-dose dronabinol worsened the patient's symptoms, leading to its discontinuation.

Cannabinoid use in immunosuppressed and hepatically compromised patients raises safety concerns.

Cultural sensitivity is crucial in managing care for Rastafarian patients.

Abstract

Background: Rastafarianism maintains that cannabis is a sacred element of the religious practice, and followers of the religion traditionally engage cautiously with western medicine. This case involves Mr. I, a 72-year-old Rastafari male with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and hepatic decompensation, who developed delirium with psychotic features which were initially managed with quetiapine. His family expressed concerns with psychotropic medications and requested using dronabinol, a synthetic cannabinoid, to manage his symptoms considering the spiritual significance of cannabinoids in the Rastafari culture. The psychiatry team's dissenting recommendations regarding dronabinol was met with resistance, and the family voiced that they felt their religious beliefs were not being respected and considered bringing in their own marijuana products. Following an ethics consultation, a compromise was reached to trial low-dose dronabinol. However, Mr. I's symptoms worsened, prompting discontinuation of dronabinol and management with olanzapine.

Discussion: This case exemplifies the complexities of clinical care when religious beliefs conflict with medical necessity. We discuss the limited indications for dronabinol and potential adverse effects on delirium's behavioral symptoms. Concerns about fungal sensitization from cannabinoid products in the context of immunosuppressive chemotherapy and the effects of cannabinoids on hepatic dysfunction are also explored. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of cultural sensitivity for Rastafari individuals who view marijuana as sacred and therapeutic. Balancing cultural and religious sensitivity with ethical, evidence-based medicine through a thorough discussion of risks and benefits is essential for optimal decision-making in such ethical dilemmas.