Removing Vicodin from a Schedule III Medication - Term Paper Example

In solving this dilemma, the first ethical principle to be applied is that the decision should consider the interests of all the stakeholders involved. The problem that has been highlighted is related to addiction due to drug abuse. The ethical principles that should be upheld in this case should be oriented towards benefiting the more significant number of the population affected. In direction, drug addiction is unethical; hence the removal of the drug Vicodin from schedule III is advocated. It can be seen that relieving pain using Vicodin is an ethical principle, but this can be violated to produce the most significant benefits to the greatest number of people while producing the least harm to the most important number of people.

The consequences of the decision are likely to impact the stakeholders involved in various ways. First and foremost, it should be noted that patients who rely on the Vicodin drug for pain relief are likely to suffer the consequences of removing it from schedule III. The removal should not be abrupt but done gradually so that another alternative can be found to serve the same purpose. However, on a different note, it can be seen that removing Vicodin from schedule III is likely to present the most excellent benefits to the most significant number of people in the long run. Indeed, the short-term consequences may hurt the affected stakeholders, but the long-term benefits of removing the drug from schedule III are more pronounced.

This action will help address the addiction problem, and it can lead to the total eradication of the problem. If people fail to access the drug, they will likely resort to other methods of relieving pain without using drugs, which can lead to addiction. Once people get used to the proper methods of relieving pain without getting addicted, it can be seen that the drug addiction problem will be solved once and for all. The issue of drug addiction has severe consequences for the healthcare of different people; hence it is a noble idea to eradicate it than to cure it. In this case, it is a good idea to adopt the following golden rule: “Prevention is better than cure.” This ethical principle is correct since it has many benefits for many people.