prescription drug commercials and magazine advertisements list myriads of medication side-effects. side-effects can be severe and can include suicidal and homicidal thoughts. thus, medications can impact an individual’s adherence to ten commandments’ principles.
prescription medications, unlike recreational drugs or are taken with good intent. thus, a morality issue arises when there are side-effects of a violent nature.
criminal law looks to intent or mens rea. in other words, is there a “guilty mind?” a medication side-effect can provide a defense to criminal charges. likewise, on a morality basis, the medical side-effect, the conduct would have excuse.
thus, the issues relating to these prescription drugs are (1) whether they are safe enough to be sold to consumers; (2) whether the medical providers dispensing them are taking adequate precautions in to address these side effects; and (3) whether the pharmacists are doing are effectively warning the patients filling the prescription.
when we speak of intent, we are brought to the concept of moral compass. moral compass has been defined as “an internalized set of values and objective that guide a person with regard to ethical behavior and decision-making.” dictionary.com. arguably, prescription drugs compromise the moral compass with respect to both ethical behavior and decision making.
the following is date of interest concerning side-effects:
with respect to suicidal symptoms, in a study, as of 2013-’14, 38 percent of adults reported taking drugs with depression as a potential side effect within the past 30 days, while 23 percent were using drugs that carried the risk of suicidal symptoms. vox.com
with respect to homicidal symptions, “acts of violence towards others are a genuine and serious adverse drug event associated with a relatively small group of drugs. varenicline, which increases the availability of dopamine, and antidepressants with serotonergic effects were the most strongly and consistently implicated drugs.” moore
be well!!
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