# Antibiotic Use vs Libertarianism

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotic-use-vs-libertarianism/601119>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 28, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotic-use-vs-libertarianism/601119 "2011-10-28T20:54:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 35

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**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotic-use-vs-libertarianism/601119/35 "2011-10-29T17:06:22Z")

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May as well do some cross-pollinating here, since the other thread is close to 1,000 posts.

**Terr** said:

> [@In a libertarian society...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-libertarian-society/599458/859):
>
> Well, libertarians move the “too high” line much lower. But - in principle - how exactly is your stance in case of not forcing people to finish their antibiotics treatment different from the libertarian stance?

Then I said:

> [@In a libertarian society...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-libertarian-society/599458/869):
>
> One example is by the innovation of technology. We now have antibiotic regimens (like [Z-Pak](http://happytummyyogaandsweets.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/zpack.jpg)) that only consist of 6 pills, over 5 days and packaged in a way that’s clear what to take and when. This makes sticking to the regimen and following through much easier than a 30 day course.
> 
> But, if these class of medications became available OTC, how many people are going to buy 30 pills which cost ~$10, over Z-Pak which cost ~$50?
> 
> Also of the population at large, it’s hard to know what percentage of these are going to be more frugal, and/or less educated on the matter, since 1) They’re not seeing a doctor, and 2) even general education isn’t mandatory or equal.

Then **Terr** said:

> [@In a libertarian society...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-libertarian-society/599458/870):
>
> But how are you going to force people to stick to the regimen and not just stop after the symptoms go away (they usually do in a couple of days)? I mean you’re SO worried about incorrect use of antibiotics. It is REALLY dangerous thing. Supposedly hundreds of thousands of people will be dying because of it. Why not suppress a little more freedom and save all those people?

Then I said:

> [@In a libertarian society...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-libertarian-society/599458/874):
>
> Because, short of hospitalization for every infection, there’s no way to do so, even if you were to assign an antibiotic police. So, the next best thing, after weighing the risks, is to try to shorten the regimen so it’s easy and convenient for the patient, and get a _proper_ prescription from the doctor (since there’s all sorts of antibiotics) as to greatly mitigate overuse and to educate the patient per infection about the consequences of stopping half way through: e.g. “You’ll be increasing the risk of developing a strain of bacteria that we won’t be able to fight with antibotics, from this very infection.”
> 
> See that? I employed common sense.

And the spiral of logic goes ever outward…

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