Varsity Medical Ethics Debate 2015: should nootropic drugs be available under prescription on the NHS?
The 2015 Varsity Medical Ethics debate convened upon the motion: "This house believes nootropic drugs should be available under prescription". This annual debate between students from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, now in its seventh year, provided the starting point for arguments on the subject. The present article brings together and extends many of the arguments put forward during the debate. We explore the current usage of nootropic drugs, their safety and whether it would be beneficial to individuals and society as a whole for them to be available under prescription. The Varsity Medical Debate was first held in 2008 with the aim of allowing students to engage in discussion about ethics and policy within healthcare. The event is held annually and it is hoped that this will allow future leaders to voice a perspective on the arguments behind topics that will feature heavily in future healthcare and science policy. This year the Oxford University Medical Society at the Oxford Union hosted the debate.
St John's College, University of Cambridge, St John's Street, Cambridge, CB21TP, UK.
Emma
E
Thorley
St Peter's College, New Inn Hall St, Oxford, OX1 2DL, UK.
Isaac
I
Kang
Gonville and Caius College, Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TA, UK.
Stephanie
S
D'Costa
Newnham College, Cambridge, CB3 9DF, UK.
Myrto
M
Vlazaki
Pembroke College, St. Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DW, UK.
Olaoluwa
O
Ayeko
Magdalen College, Oxford, OX1 4AU, UK.
Edward H
EH
Arbe-Barnes
St John's College, University of Cambridge, St John's Street, Cambridge, CB21TP, UK. caseyswerner@gmail.com.|Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London (UCL), 17 Alexandra House, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK. caseyswerner@gmail.com.
Casey B
CB
Swerner
D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
D018697:Nootropic Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs