Psycho-Active Pharmaceuticals and Military Performance in an Ethical Perspective.

摘要

Human performance technologies include among others the use of psycho-active pharmaceuticals. In trying to answer the question if the use of psycho-active pharmaceuticals in the military is ethically acceptable, a psycho-medical model with four guiding questions is discussed. From two examples of modern warfare with these guiding questions, it is concluded that an ethical use of psycho-active pharmaceuticals is possible. Also three additional points of view are discussed. Firstly, a human performance perspective on manned weapon systems is presented, next to the psycho-medical model. From this human performance perspective it is recommended to make military personnel and their commanders aware of the detrimental effects of fatigue and exhaustion on vigilance and decision making. Secondly, the quality of life of military personnel is introduced as a criterion for the ethical use of psycho-active pharmaceuticals. It appears that performance and quality of life can be addressed simultaneously in manned weapon systems. Thirdly, it is recommended to continue the discussion on ethical use of psycho-active pharmaceuticals by feeding it with empirical data from randomized controlled field studies, in stead of examining cases and logical reasoning only.