Who Is Guilty: The Drugs Or The Boy?
By fritz_hailey
@fritz_hailey (1334)
United States
December 8, 2006 11:09am CST
Teen uses Zoloft defense in murder case
He was using antidepressant when he killed his grandparents
The Associated Press
Updated: 9:44 a.m. ET Feb. 1, 2005
CHARLESTON, S.C. - A teenager who shot and killed his grandparents as they slept is “a shy, decent boy” who was led to kill by the antidepressant Zoloft, his attorney said as the boy went on trial.
Christopher Pittman, now 15, is being tried as an adult for two counts of murder in the November 2001 slayings of Joe and Joy Pittman with a pump-action shotgun. Their house was set ablaze and the youth, then 12, drove off in the family car.
Defense attorney Andy Vickery said Monday that Zoloft was to blame.
“This is a case about one drug that has taken three lives. When you hear the case, you will have the power and opportunity to give one back,” he said. “A shy, decent boy was acting under the influence of a mind-altering drug.”
Full Story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6894217/
So would you convict Zoloft of Pittman?
2 people like this
15 responses
@fluffhead (79)
• United States
8 Dec 06
This is just a case of Zoloft being used as an excuse. Unfortunatly lots of excuses are used to defend poor behavior. Many of the kids diagnosed with ADD/ADHD don't really have it, they just don't know how to act. Instead of parents correcting this behavior, some just opt for ritilin or equivilent instead. People need to take responsibility.
1 person likes this
@lcsamano (200)
• United States
8 Dec 06
What are you basing the not having ADD/ADHD on? A doctor is the one that has to evaluate the situation. It isn't something were a parent can go in there and say I need ritlin cause my child has ADD or ADHD. It is a very extensive evaluation that goes on before any medication.
@fluffhead (79)
• United States
8 Dec 06
I can't recall where, but I read an article saying that parents would go to Dr.s and ask for a perscription because their kid is showing signs. Some Dr.s would write the perscriptions without even seeing the child. They were found out and lost their licenses.
I'm not saying that all cases are bs, but some are
@lcsamano (200)
• United States
8 Dec 06
True I am sure that many people go into the doctor to try to get meds for their children because they just can't be bothered. Yes, there are those doctors that don't do the evaluation and they should lose their license. Doctors are supposed to do a evaluation which is very extensive incase of an audit since the meds are a control substance. They have to have documentation of why they are being prescribed. I think that doctors who just write prescribtions should lose their license because there are so many side effects of the meds and someone who doesn't have ADD/ADHD could really be harmed.
@iAlicia (758)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Honestly, I know everyone reacts different to medication. I have taken Zoloft and all it did was make me really tired. I don't think it was the medication. I think it was his illness that drove him to do this, because everyone knows that normal young boys do not do commit this types of crimes.
@justkaren (107)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Ultimately the boy is responsible...but the doctor who prescribed the medication bears some responsibility if he wasn't adequately monitoring his patient.
@nobodyspecial (1011)
• United States
9 Dec 06
For the last few years there has been a lot of controversy over teens being placed on prescription antidepressants of any kind. Sucidal ideation has been a problem along with actual attempts.
Whether Zoloft made this boy homocidal remains to be seen...
Antidepressants have been known to make people hallucinate, become more depressed, as often as they have helped.
It is still a mind altering substance when you get right down to it. About that the attorney was correct.
For more info on antidepressants and teens visit the websites listed below.
http://www.fleschnerlaw.com/teens.php
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/57082/teens_and_antidepressants_a_bad_mix.html
http://www.ablechild.org/newsarchive/ABC%207%20Medical%20teens%20and%20antidepressants%209-8-04.htm
@MissGia (955)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Pittman
Zoloft is an anti depressant and i have known and know many people that take zoloft.. and thankfully they dont go around killing their grandparents.
How is his lawyer gonna explain this one to a jury, this is just as bad as people suing rock bands and what not because "the music made them do it".
Give me a break, that boy has issues and killed his grandparents for some screwed up reason..and Zoloft didnt make him do it.
@yupitsme (62)
• United States
9 Dec 06
hm... this is a tough question... if I was an attorney or judge for this case I would give the boy a full pyschological examine and find out if he has changed since he took this medicine. This case is a hard case to have an opinion on because there is so much more detail and analysis that has to be done for example you have to find out if he has stopped taking the medication without telling anybody or if he has had thoughts before the medication but if he has had no threats or thoughts about killing before but then started to when he took the medication I would blame the medication but if he has had thoughts like that then i would blame him.
