THE FATHER of a young girl who is living with cancer and epilepsy has made an impassioned plea for access to a cannabis-based medication.
14-year-old Lauren McGrath is currently being treated for cancer for the third time in her young life, and recently had to have a leg amputated due to complications from the disease.
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Her fight against cancer is complicated further by seizures caused by epilepsy– something which can be treated with a cannabis-based drug, but which the family have been refused access to “time and time again”.
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Lauren’s father, Niall McGrath, spoke to local radio show Tipp Today where he said Lauren has been refused access to Epidiolex, despite it being available in Ireland and having a prescription from a consultant in Blackrock Clinic.
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“It’s not listed with the HSE,” he told the station, “and the cost of the medication is about €1,200 a month.”
“We’ve been turned down time and time again.”
Despite fighting cancer, Lauren, who lives with her family in Limerick, is an amazing and strong person, her father continued.
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“She’s a really bubbly person and really good-humoured and has loads of friends,” he said, adding that they have all remained…
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