Washington Doctor Vs. DEA For Lawful Use Of Psilocybin To Treat Terminally Ill Patients
A protracted legal battle led by Dr. Sunil Aggarwal and the Advanced Integrative Medical Science Institute (AIMS) against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the latter’s refusal to allow psilocybin treatment for terminally-ill patients has taken another turn.
Dr. Aggarwal’s original request was to treat his patients at the end of their lives under Washington State’s right-to-try (RTT) law, which enables the use of unapproved investigational drugs such as psilocybin.
Now, a new federal appeals court filing by Aggarwal’s lawyers states that the DEA failed to explain a key decision when denying him access to the psychedelic and calls judges to reverse the decision and request the government to reconsider the matter.
Also Read: DEA Renews Effort To Place 2 Psychedelics In Strictest Drug Category
Awaiting Patients
Sunil Aggarwal’s patients have advanced-stage cancer, some suffering from severe and debilitating anxiety and depression, and do not respond to FDA-approved therapies. He discussed utilizing psilocybin therapy with certain patients who expressed a desire to try the treatment and provided informed consent.
Representing attorney Kathryn Tucker told Law360 that the extended legal dispute due to DEA’s refusals has obstructed dying patients’ access to a drug their doctors …