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Let's say that someone is on medication for schizophrenia. And when they are not on medication they have homicidal thoughts and intentions. Now let's also say that this person decides that they will be able to control their schizophrenic tendencies without medication and thus takes themselves off of their medication. Then, for argument's sake, let's say that this person kills someone based on a schizophrenic episode. There is a moral issue here. Should this person be tried based on temporary insanity or are they tried as if they made sane decisions? I would have to say that this person should be tried as a sane person and thus should serve time in jail and not in a mental institution. Why is that? Well, this person voluntarily took themselves off of their medication. They made a moral choice of allowing possible schizophrenic episodes to occur and they knew what could happen. They had their chance to stay sane while on medication but made the conscious decision to be off the medication and thus all possible actions resulting from not being on medication. And thus they should be punished as someone who knew what they were doing when they committed the murder. But what if the person did not fully realize what they were doing when they took themselves off of their medication? Well, in that case society is the one that failed. If this person was so morally deficient as to not realize what they were allowing to happen by taking themselves off of their medication then they should have been in a mental institution until this deficiency in moral judegement was "fixed", in a sense. Another possible scenario is that this person's doctors suggest that he/she go off of their medication. Should the person still be held responsible for the murder as a sane person? Absolutely. The doctors did not force the person off of their medication. They merely suggested. And the person knew what could happen if he/she went off of their medication. They did not have to take the advice of the doctors. I am sure some of you are asking about the possibility of the doctors withholding this person's medication. Well, then it is this person's moral obligation to some how stay on the medication or else prevent themselves from committing any crimes while under a schizophrenic event. Whether this means going to another doctor, stealing the medication or taking it illegally, or being placed in a mental institution, it is the person's moral responsiblity to keep from committing immoral acts. It comes down to having the chance to make clear, moral decisions. As soon as that chance is taken, it is every person's moral obligation to keep their morality going and in check. And if theat person never receives that chance? That is when society must intervene to prevent any harm to society from anyone who never have a moral thought. |