Ads for medications are everywhere on tv. You can’t help but be subjected to an ad for some strangely named medication for a certain condition, often but not always trivial. That nonsensical name is mentioned followed by a lengthy readings of its many side effects, more often than not including death, the weird name again, and the ad ends.
And that’s all fine, except for the first sentence of the side effects, included in all medication ads: “Do not take if allergic to (insert nonsensical name here).” It’s this exact sentence that makes me wonder who is to blame for at least some of our societal ills.
After all, do people need to be told to avoid taking something to which they’re allergic? Isn’t that common sense? Shouldn’t it be? That sentence means someone at some point took some meds they were allergic to, became ill, and sued the drug company for it and somehow won what is usually a large monetary sum. this person, instead of taking responsibility for themselves and paying at least some attention to what the hell they’re putting in their body, blamed the maker of that substance for not telling them not to take something to which they’re allergic. And made money off that stupidity!
You may argue that medical allergies are different than other allergies which are better known and easier to identify, like peanut allergies or issues with wheat, etc. Okay, that may be true, but isn’t it still your responsibility to tell your doctor about all your allergies so he or she can take them into consideration when prescribing medicine for you?
Apparently it isn’t.
And it is this lack of personal responsibility for oneself that is at the crux of a lot of what is wrong with our society. You are hit by a car while crossing against the light and preoccupied with your phone? Sue the phone and car manufacturers. You drive into a lake because of faulty GPS directions? it’s the GPS’s fault. Accidentally shot someone while hunting? Sue the gun maker.
Look, I’m not at all against warning labels on foods or any consumables that can cause serious harm; I often read ingredients lists on food containers to see if my lactose intolerant tummy can digest them properly. But to have to tell you to not take something you know can harm you is like telling someone not to slam their head on the brick wall because it can crack their skull open; it should not have to be said.
Anyway, that’s my rant over with. And by the way, as far as food allergies being easier to avoid, pick up a jar of peanuts or peanut butter next time you’re in in the grocery store and read the back label.
It will say “Contains Peanuts.”