Pubdate: Tue, 17 Sep 2002 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Page: A16 Copyright: 2002, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Mark Thotnton Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1738/a09.html?1455 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) THE ETHICS OF ADDICTION Toronto -- I must disagree with Louis Charland's view that heroin addicts cannot give voluntary consent to participate in research where they are given heroin free of charge (Heroin Study Violates Ethics, Academic Says -- Sept. 16). If a heroin addict intends to maintain his or her addiction, then such consent is certainly voluntary. Prof. Charland evidently confuses voluntary consent with the quite different notion of having the willpower to refuse consent. But in fact if someone prefers to do what he can do rather than what he cannot do, then doing what he prefers is voluntary, though he may be said to lack the power or freedom to choose otherwise. It is also obvious that a heroin addict's consent is competent and informed, since he or she knows exactly what taking heroin involves. Mark Thotnton, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager