The mother of a teenager with epilepsy who says medical cannabis saved his life is fighting to ensure other children also benefit.
Charlotte Caldwell says medical cannabis has transformed the life of her 17-year-old son, Billy.
Charlotte Caldwell says her son Billy’s life was transformed by medical cannabis
Before the treatment began, Billy’s epilepsy caused as many as 100 seizures a day.
But thanks to the treatment, Caldwell says Billy has had just two 30-second seizures in more than two years.
Lifetime prescription
Caldwell, 51, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, fought a high-profile campaign to win a lifetime NHS prescription for Billy.
It followed her experience of a more positive attitude towards medical cannabis abroad.
In 2016, US doctors treated Billy with medical cannabis. Later, medics in Canada did the same.
But when Caldwell returned to the UK, officials seized Billy’s cannabis oil. Five days later he suffered back-to-back seizures.
Flawed legislation
Caldwell went public before medics gave her son the treatment in the UK.
In November 2018, Caldwell’s campaigning pushed the UK government to introduce legislation allowing cannabis prescriptions.
But lawmakers framed the legislation in a way that made doctors reluctant to put their names on prescriptions.
She said: “Doctors are clearly asking for more data to be gathered on the safety and the efficacy of the medicine.”
Caldwell said the lack of clinical trials that make it clear the treatment is safe and effective means it will continue to be classed as an unlicensed medicine that doctors are unwilling to prescribe.
More trials needed
More trials need to take place to make the drug widely available, she said.
She believes around 35,000 UK families could benefit.
Caldwell wants any families paying for a private cannabis prescription to contact her I Am Billy foundation, which may be able to get the medication for free.
Autism Eye approached the Department of Health and Social Care for comment, but it did not respond.
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Published: 23 March 2023
