Abstract

We present the case of a cannabis user who developed priapism of one-week duration. He had smoked cannabis intermittently for a period of about 4years. He was admitted twice for drug rehabilitation on account of mental and behavioral dysfunction. In this consultation which was the third, his case was complicated with priapism. He died within 24 hours of urgent referral to a tertiary hospital, where he was admitted into the accident and emergency complex. His vital signs were reported to be normal and aspiration of blood (25mls) from the penis was done with prior administration of adrenaline. The patient started gasping and died 2 hours later. The need to take cognizance of the possibility of priapism as comorbidity in cannabis users as well as ethical issues in the practice of medicine are emphasized. More so, in medical/surgical emergencies in psychiatric hospitals.