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Doctors condemn use of drugs as weapons

BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39224.365949.4E (Published 24 May 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:1073
  1. Zosia Kmietowicz
  1. London

    Drugs can never be used safely to enforce the law, say doctors in a report published this week by the BMA.

    The report highlights the increasing interest among some governments in the use of “tactical pharmacology” or “non-lethal” drugs as weapons. Doctors need to be aware that using medical knowledge for hostile purposes puts human lives at risk and aware of the ethical implications of taking part in developing drugs for non-medical purposes, as well as antidotes and treatments for victims of chemical law enforcement, it says.

    The report concludes, “The agent whereby people could be incapacitated without risk of death …

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