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More Psychedelic Controversy

We have been interested in the developing field of psychedelic research for some time. Our Guild President, Dr. Carroll, published an extensive review of psychedelics as medications in the Linacre Quarterly last year.

In this context, we read with interest a recent article by Joe Welker, a self-described former psychedelic user turned critic, who has written extensively on his own experiences with psychedelics and the related culture. More recently, he became a whistleblower on a John’s Hopkins psychedelic research study involving clergy, leading to IRB censure of the researchers and suppression of compromised data.

Joe now provides us with a lengthy piece reviewing and critiquing a recent article by self-described psychedelic advocate Michael Pollen (of How to Change Your Mind fame). Here’s a summary from Joe’s piece:

In sum, Pollan’s piece circumvented IRB regulators who had, in their mercy, just allowed them to publish controversial data at risk of the IRB’s own reputation. A major media platform was then used to launder ethically problematic research in lieu of formal publication. While Pollan may have felt justified as they were blended in with his personal interviews with participants, and he saw that as the essence of the story, it still means ethically compromised, non-peer-reviewed research was presented to millions of readers without the essential context that Hopkins deemed mandatory for public consumption.

It’s worth reading the whole thing.

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State-Sanctioned Suicide Response – More Media Coverage

First, the Catholic Courier excerpts statements in opposition to the so-called MAiD legislation from Bishop Matano, the Bishops of NY, Feminists Choosing Life of New York, and the letter submitted to the Governor by Dr. Carroll on behalf of the Finger Lakes Guild

Second, The Pulse (a publication of the CMA) published an excellent piece by FLG Board Member Jean Baric-Parker making an excellent case against State-Sanctioned Suicide:

Finally, The Tablet quoted Dr. Carroll in a piece entitled, “Pro-Life Leaders Contend With Fallout Over NY Suicide Bill”

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Desire for Death

This is a small, cross-sectional, study…and…the results suggest that those who desire to die…

  1. …are more demoralized
  2. …have less hope
  3. …are NOT bothered any more by pain than those we do not desire to die

What can we conclude from this small, cross-sectional, study? Maybe:

  • In order to help those who want to die…we can help them recognize reasons for hope in their life (or even the objective existence of that theological virtue Hope!)
  • Continue to make it known that it is NOT pain that leads to the desire for death! This is a lie of the Culture of Death that is pushing State-Sanctioned Suicide right now in the NY State Legislature. If you have not done so already please contact your NY State Senator! Their legislative session ends next week. Now is the time!