Court authorization ensures treatment for child with refractory epilepsy in Rio Grande do Norte

The decision of the Rio Grande do Norte Court brought hope and relief to a family in Parnamirim, in Greater Natal, who were battling their son's refractory epilepsy. With resistance to conventional treatments, the child used to experience up to 100 daily seizures until cannabidiol emerged as a ray of hope.

According to reports from the child's caregiver to G1, the change after the introduction of cannabidiol was remarkable. The seizures, which were previously a constant source of anguish, were reduced to an average of three per day, and without associated symptoms. More than that, the treatment brought significant improvements in the child's balance, behavior, and communication, as well as positively impacting the results of the electroencephalogram.

The unanimous decision of the judges of the 3rd Civil Chamber of the RN Court of Justice is a milestone in the search for alternative treatments for challenging medical conditions. The health plan is now required to cover the 50 mg/ml cannabidiol as prescribed by the responsible physician, with a deadline of 15 days to comply with the ruling, under penalty of a daily fine of R$ 500.

Although the child's age has not been disclosed, the severity of their condition was evidenced by the urgent and undeniable need for this treatment. The ongoing genetic investigation aims to confirm Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, which are known to challenge traditional methods of epilepsy control.

The court decision was not only based on the specific situation of the child but also considered legal and medical precedents. The jurisprudence of the RN Court of Justice supported the approval of cannabidiol use for refractory cases of epilepsy, such as the mentioned syndromes, as well as in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.

In addition to the immediate relief provided by the treatment, the ruling also took into account the risks associated with discontinuing the use of cannabidiol, such as severe neurological complications or even sudden death.