November 12, 2026
Who gets to decide how you treat your pain — you, your doctor, or the healthcare system?
For millions of people living with chronic pain, serious illness, and trauma, finding relief can mean navigating a healthcare system that doesn't always listen, understand, or offer effective solutions.
In this episode of Let's Be Blunt with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with Sven Andersen, engineer, founder of Highstage, patient advocate, and author of the forthcoming book Who Has the Right to My Pain?
Drawing on his own experience living with multiple sclerosis since 1999 and decades of medical cannabis advocacy, Montel explores the complicated relationship between medical authority, personal freedom, and the fundamental right of patients to have a voice in their own healthcare.
Together, Montel and Sven tackle some of the most important questions facing modern medicine:
Who ultimately has the right to make decisions about a patient's pain?
Why are so many chronic pain patients still struggling to be heard?
How do we balance medical expertise with individual autonomy?
What role should medical cannabis and emerging psychedelic therapies play in treating suffering?
Are healthcare regulations protecting patients or sometimes preventing them from accessing potentially beneficial treatments?
How can we build a healthcare system that prioritizes compassion, informed consent, and quality of life?
From chronic illness and cancer to trauma, medical cannabis, and the future of patient-centered care, this conversation challenges conventional thinking about who controls our bodies and our treatment choices.
Because when you're the one living with the pain, shouldn't your voice matter?
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Sven Andersen is a Copenhagen-based engineer, entrepreneur, author, and patient advocate. His forthcoming book, Who Has the Right to My Pain?, explores chronic suffering, medical cannabis, psychedelics, trauma, cancer, and the ethical questions surrounding patient autonomy and medical decision-making.
TODAY'S SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by LifeClaim.com.
If your family has experienced a denied life insurance claim, you may have legal options. LifeClaim is a law firm dedicated to helping families challenge denied life insurance claims.
Learn more at https://www.lifeclaim.com
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Have you ever felt that your pain wasn't taken seriously by a healthcare professional? Do you believe patients should have more freedom to make decisions about their treatment options?